Sglt-2 Inhibitors Offer Protection Against Autoimmune Conditions

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors utilized to dainty type 2 glucosuria are associated pinch an 11% little consequence of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, specified arsenic rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, compared pinch different group of glucosuria narcotics called sulfonylureas, finds a study from South Korea published by The BMJ today.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases hap erstwhile nan assemblage mistakenly attacks its ain patient tissues, starring to inflammation and harm to joints, skin, muscles, and different organs. Common conditions see rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.

Previous studies person shown that SGLT-2 inhibitors tin inhibit nan body's immune response, but whether these effects are clinically meaningful remains unclear.

To reside this, researchers utilized nan Korea National Health Insurance Service database to analyse 2,032,157 adults pinch type 2 glucosuria (average property 59; 60% men) who started taking either an SGLT-2 inhibitor aliases a sulfonylurea from 2012 to 2022.

Potentially influential factors specified arsenic age, sex, income level, existing conditions and supplier treatments, healthcare use, and manner factors were taken into account, and 2 power outcomes (genital infections and herpes zoster) were besides included to measure nan consequence of bias.

A full of 790 participants taking SGLT-2 inhibitors and 840 participants taking sulfonylureas were recently diagnosed pinch autoimmune rheumatic disease.

Over an mean follow-up play of 9 months, SGLT-2 inhibitors were associated pinch an 11% little consequence of autoimmune rheumatic diseases compared pinch sulfonylureas, pinch incidence rates per 100,000 personification years of 52 and 58, respectively. 

Findings were mostly accordant among subgroups analysed by age, sex, type of SGLT-2 inhibitor, baseline cardiovascular disease, and obesity status. The results for power outcomes besides suggested that bias was apt minimal.

This is an observational study truthful nary patient conclusions tin beryllium drawn astir origin and effect, and nan authors admit that follow-up was comparatively short, and different unmeasured factors whitethorn person affected nan results.

However, they opportunity this was a ample study that applied rigorous methods to nationwide data, and, arsenic such, these results propose that SGLT-2 inhibitors whitethorn lend to reducing nan consequence of autoimmune diseases. 

"However, this imaginable use should beryllium cautiously weighed against known adverse events and concerns astir tolerability," they write. "Replication successful different populations and settings, arsenic good arsenic studies successful patients pinch existing autoimmune rheumatic diseases, are warranted to corroborate and widen these observations."

While successful isolation, this study is improbable to alteration practice, it is nan first afloat magnitude publication to propose that SGLT-2 inhibitors trim nan consequence of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, opportunity researchers from Canada successful a linked editorial.

Although this intriguing uncovering warrants replication successful different populations, this study "sets a instauration for early investigation and provides preliminary grounds to support an further logic to usage an SGLT-2 inhibitor complete a sulfonylurea for nan management of type 2 diabetes," they conclude.