Emphysematous Pyelonephritis in a Patient on SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapy: A Rare Clinical Case Report

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare but potentially life-threatening urinary tract infection characterized by the formation of gas in the renal parenchyma, collecting system, and perinephric tissue. The condition typically develops in patients with specific predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, congenital or acquired obstructive uropathies, or individuals taking immunosuppressive agents. Rarely can the disease occur in patients with other predisposing factors, such as the use of SGLT2 inhibitors, but this is quite uncommon. The incidence of urinary tract infections associated with their use is still debatable, but cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis associated with SGLT2 inhibitors have been described in medical literature.

We present a rare case of a patient with emphysematous pyelonephritis without classical risk factors for the disease, who was taking an SGLT2 inhibitor.

Although the frequency of urinary tract infections following the use of SGLT2 inhibitors is relatively low, their widespread application for treatment of numerous socially significant diseases underscores the necessity for specialists to be aware with all potential risks associated with their use, including the development of severe urinary tract infections.