Abstract

New antidiabetic drugs for cardio- and nephro-protection in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes are significant contributory factors for serious cardiovascular and renal events, and they are considered a major health problem worldwide. The use of new classes of drugs for treatment of diabetes, such as SGLT2 inhibitors (iSGLT2) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), has significantly influenced the choice of optimum therapy for diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. These drugs have not only enabled effective monitoring of blood glucose levels but more importantly, they also allowed reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events and the risk of end-stage renal failure. These therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to mechanisms that are independent of hypoglycemic effects produced by the drugs in question. The scientific opinion of the American Heart Association summarizes the current findings on cardio- and nephro-protection effects of treatment based on the use of iSGLT2 and GLP-1 RAs as well as discusses potential mechanisms of their benefits.