Side effect of a useful medicine

Hypoglycemic drug protects against heart attack, but increases the risk of amputation

Anna Stavina, XX2 century, based on MNT materials: Diabetes drug found to reduce heart and kidney disease risk

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is becoming more common, and with it the prevalence of strokes and kidney diseases is also increasing, since they are associated with diabetes. But there is also good news – a recently published study has demonstrated that the drug, often prescribed to lower glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, simultaneously reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and nephropathies.

The work was carried out on the basis of the Australian Institute of Global Health George (George Institute for Global Health), and its results are published in the publication New England Journal of Medicine (Neal et al., Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Events in Type 2 Diabetes). Judging by the results of the work, the drug canagliflozin (canagliflozin) can be called a "3-in-1 remedy". Kanagliflozin not only reduces blood glucose levels (this property of the drug was known earlier), but also reduces the risk of developing heart and kidney diseases. In Russia, the drug is sold under the name "Invokana".

Finding ways to reduce the frequency of CVD in diabetic patients is an extremely important task, because it is in such patients that cardiovascular diseases develop very often. According to the American Heart Association, about 70% of elderly people with diabetes die from one or another CVD. In addition, experts of the same association claim that the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus "increases the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases by 2-4 times."

"The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing all over the world, and we need medications that not only help control glucose levels, but also protect people from serious risks of heart attacks and strokes," says Professor Bruce Neal from the George Institute for Global Health.

Scientists analyzed the medical histories of more than 10 thousand patients from 30 countries. The researchers were able to reproduce the results of previous work that demonstrated that taking hypoglycemic drugs can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing CVD in people with diabetes.

Kanagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but increases the risk of amputation.

Kanagliflozin belongs to the group of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors or SGLT-2 inhibitors that inhibit the process of glucose reabsorption. This drug not only blocks the reabsorption of sugar into the blood, but also causes the kidneys to secrete more glucose in the urine.

During the study, it was found that patients with type 2 diabetes taking canagliflozin have a 33% lower risk of being hospitalized with heart failure. In addition, against the background of taking this drug, the probability of developing CVD decreases by 14%, and the risk of "serious kidney disorders" decreases by 40%.

The scientists also managed to demonstrate that the drug reduces the risks associated with CVD in all patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, and not only in those with cardiovascular diseases that have already begun to manifest.

Co-author of the work, Professor Vlado Perkovic, Executive Director of the George Institute for Global Health, talks about the new work:

– Both patients and doctors should be quite satisfied with the results of the study. We have shown that previously collected data is not just an accident. This [drug] is really capable of changing the rules of the game on the field of diabetes. It not only reduces the risk of developing CVD, but also protects against a decrease in kidney function, often observed in patients with diabetes mellitus.

However, the study confirmed the recently discovered serious risks: against the background of taking kanagliflozin, the probability of limb amputation increased approximately twice in patients. The reasons for the revealed connection are not yet completely clear, therefore, it is not recommended to prescribe this drug to patients whose risk of amputation is increased.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  14.06.2017