Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: Analyses of short-term efficacy and safety

Eur J Heart Fail. 2024 Apr;26(4):938-947. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.3198. Epub 2024 Mar 15.

Abstract

Aims: Despite their potential, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have not been well-studied in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) as randomized trials have excluded patients with this morbid disease. We performed a retrospective study assessing the short-term efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in ATTR-CM.

Methods and results: We screened consecutive patients seen at a tertiary care centre and identified 87 ATTR-CM patients treated with SGLT2i and 95 untreated control patients. Endpoints included changes in weight, loop diuretic dose, and cardiac/renal biomarkers. The median age of the overall population was 79 (interquartile range [IQR] 11) years. Nearly 90% of patients were male, and 93% were on a transthyretin stabilizer. Control patients demonstrated generally less severe disease at baseline compared to SGLT2i-treated patients, with lower median Columbia risk score (p < 0.001). Median follow-up time was 5.6 (IQR 5.2) and 8.4 (IQR 2.1) months in the SGLT2i and control cohorts, respectively. Compared with controls, SGLT2i treatment was associated with significantly greater reductions from baseline in weight, loop diuretic dose, and uric acid during follow-up (p < 0.001). While no significant between-group differences were observed on cardiac biomarkers, estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly reduced versus controls 1 month after SGLT2i initiation (p = 0.002), but no significant differences were observed at later timepoints. Results were similar in a propensity score-matched analysis (n = 42 per cohort). A total of 10 (11.5%) patients discontinued SGLT2i, most commonly due to genitourinary symptoms.

Conclusion: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were well tolerated by most patients with ATTR-CM and appeared to improve volume status and combat diuretic resistance. Randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Cardiac amyloidosis; Guideline‐directed medical therapy; Heart failure; Preserved ejection fraction; SGLT2 inhibitor; Transthyretin amyloid.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / drug therapy
  • Cardiomyopathies* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors

Supplementary concepts

  • Amyloidosis, Hereditary, Transthyretin-Related