Changes in Cardiovascular Biomarkers Associated With the Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor Ertugliflozin in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing renal and cardiovascular complications. Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have garnered interest due to their glucose-independent cardiorenal protective effects, as reported in trials including participants with and without diabetes, such as Dapagliflozin And Prevention of Adverse outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease (DAPA-CKD) (1,2). These trials have demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, especially hospitalization for heart failure (1,2). Despite these clinical benefits, the underlying physiological mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors are incompletely understood, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Accordingly, this analysis examined the impact of treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor, ertugliflozin, on markers of plasma volume contraction and myocardial strain in participants with type 2 diabetes and moderate CKD. We performed a post hoc exploratory analysis in a subset of 231 participants from the eValuation of ERTugliflozin efficacy and Safety (VERTIS) RENAL trial (clinical trial reg. no. NCT01986855, ClinicalTrials.gov) with type 2 diabetes and stage 3 CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2) who were randomized to SGLT2 inhibitor therapy with ertugliflozin (5 mg or 15 mg daily; pooled herein) or placebo (3). Clinical and biomarker measurements were obtained at baseline and 26 weeks and 52 weeks postrandomization. Biomarkers were quantified with Luminex xMAP (cardiac troponin, renin, and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) or ELISA (atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP], human erythropoietin [EPO], ACE, and ACE2). Aldosterone was quantified by DiaSorin LIAISON XL Analyzer based on competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay. Differences in longitudinal changes in biomarkers among participants receiving either …