Response evaluation of SGLT2 inhibitor therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MRI

Inhibitors of sodium-glucose linked transporter-2 (SGLT2i) are enhancing glucose excretion in the proximal renal tubules, and thus are increasingly used to lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The glucose analog 2-deoxy-2-(¹⁸F) fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) can be used to quantify renal function in vivo, and due to an affinity for SGLT2 could also provide information about SGLT2 transporter function. Our objectives in this study were, therefore, to assess the impact of SGLT2i on renal function parameters in patients with T2DM and identify predictive parameters of long-term response to SGLT2i using dynamic FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI.

PET FDG renal function measures such as mean transit time (MTT) and general renal performance (GRP) together with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined in 20 patients with T2DM before (T2DM_baseline) and 2 weeks after initiation of therapy with SGLT2i (T2DM_SGLT2i). Additionally, dynamic FDG PET data of 24 healthy subjects were used as controls.

MTT in T2DM_baseline was significantly higher than in healthy controls (5.7 min vs 4.3 min, p=0.012) and significantly decreased to 4.4 min in T2DM_SGLT2i (p=0.004). GRP of T2DM_SGLT2i was higher than of T2DM_baseline (5.2 vs 4.7, p=0.02) and higher but not significantly than of healthy individuals (5.2 vs 5.1, p=0.34). Expectedly, GFR of healthy participants was significantly higher than of T2DM_baseline and T2DM_SGLT2i (122 vs 92 and 86 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively; p<0.001). The higher the GRP value in kidneys of T2DM_SGLT2i, the lower was the glycated hemoglobin level 3 months after therapy initiation.

MTT and GRP values of patients with T2DM shifted significantly toward values of healthy control 2 weeks after therapy with SGLT2i begins. GRP in T2DM_SGLT2i was associated with better long-term glycemic response 3 months after initiation of therapy.

NCT03557138.