Empagliflozin confers reno-protection in acute myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims: Although the reno-protective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are known in patients with heart failure or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), this effect has not been confirmed in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods and results: The prospective, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled EMBODY trial investigated patients with AMI and T2DM in Japan. The eligible patients included adults aged 20 years or older, diagnosed with AMI and T2DM, and who could be discharged within 2-12 weeks after the onset of AMI. One hundred and five patients were randomized (1:1) to receive once daily 10 mg empagliflozin or placebo within 2 weeks of AMI onset. In this sub-analysis, we investigated the time course of renal functional parameters such as serum creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline to Weeks 4, 12, and 24. Ninety-six patients (64 ± 11 years, 78 male) were included in the full analysis (n = 46 and 50 in the empagliflozin and placebo groups, respectively). We used serum creatinine and eGFR as indicators of renal function. In the placebo group, eGFR decreased from 66.14 mL/min/1.73 m² at baseline to 62.77 mL/min/1.73 m² by Week 24 (P = 0.023) but remained unchanged in the empagliflozin group (from 64.60 to 64.36 mL/min/1.73 m² , P = 0.843). In the latter group, uric acid improved from 5.8 mg/dL at baseline to 4.9 mg/dL at Week 24 (P < 0.001). In the earlier analysis of 56 patients with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² , the eGFR decreased and the serum creatinine increased from baseline to 24 weeks in the placebo group, significantly different to the empagliflozin group (-6.61 vs. +0.22 mL/min/1.73 m² , P = 0.008 and +0.063 vs. -0.001 mg/dL, P = 0.030, respectively). The changes in serum creatinine and eGFR from baseline to Week 24 were significantly correlated with those in uric acid in the placebo group (r = 0.664, P < 0.001 and r = -0.675, P < 0.001, respectively) but not in the empagliflozin group.

Conclusions: Empagliflozin prevented the kidney functional decline in patients with AMI and T2DM, especially those with baseline eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² . Early administration of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in these patients is considered desirable for renal protection.