Empagliflozin and Renal Oxygenation in Healthy Volunteers
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2018-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
SGLT-2 inhibitors belong to a new class of hypoglycemic drugs with the unique property of
decreasing blood glucose through an increase in glucosuria. These drugs inhibit the sodium
glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) expressed at the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule.
SGLT-2 inhibition in type 2 diabetic subjects and in healthy volunteers shifts the threshold
for renal glucose excretion to lower levels. This effect is independent from insulin. The
inhibition of SGLT2 decreases HbA1C, systolic blood pressure and weight in diabetic subjects.
Recently, the EMPA-REG trial demonstrated a decrease in cardiovascular mortality and renal
endpoints in empagliflozin treated type 2 diabetic patients with established cardio-vascular
disease.
Because this novel hypoglycemic drug has unique and direct effects on renal tissue
metabolism, it is important to better examine its effects on the kidney. With this study, we
propose to explore the effects of empagliflozin on renal tissue oxygenation. Our hypothesis
is that SGLT-2 inhibition decreases renal cortical energy requirements with consequently an
increase in renal tissue oxygenation.