Effects of alogliptin in chronic kidney disease patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we examined the effects of alogliptin on blood glucose control and the renal function in type 2 diabetes CKD patients.

We recruited 36 CKD patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients were followed up for six months after adding alogliptin. Blood biochemical, urine test and office BP values were obtained six months before and after the start of treatment.

The mean HbA1c value was not decreased; however, the 1,5-AG values tended to improve (p=0.1023). The mean eGFR was unchanged. There were no significant changes in the patients with an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or more (25 patients) or in the patients with an eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (11 patients). A total of 15 patients were identified to have rapidly declining diabetic nephropathy, with an annual reduction in eGFR of 5 mL/min/1.73 m2 or more. The slope of the regression line for eGFR (-1.296 before starting treatment with alogliptin) was positive, increasing up to 0.08786. The eGFR values appeared to stop decreasing and positively reversed. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio exhibited a downward trend. The effect on the renal function was independent of the levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and lipids.

We examined the ability of alogliptin to maintain the renal function in patients with CKD complicated by type 2 diabetes. Our study suggests that alogliptin can be safely administered in patients with CKD. However, although we expected alogliptin to demonstrate renal protective effects, were unable to detect statistically significant differences. One reason for this finding is that there are few registered cases.