Effects of Dapagliflozin in Patients with Membranous Nephropathy

Despite the provision of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitors and immunosuppressive therapies, membranous nephropathy often progresses to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The objective of this prespecified analysis was to assess the safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin in patients with membranous nephropathy enrolled in the DAPA-CKD trial.

Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 25-75 mL/min/1.73 m² and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) 200-5,000 mg/g were randomized to dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo, along with standard-of-care and followed for median 2.4 years. The primary endpoint was a composite of ≥50% sustained decline in eGFR, ESKD, or kidney or cardiovascular death. Exploratory efficacy endpoints included eGFR slope and UACR.

Among DAPA-CKD participants with membranous nephropathy, 19 were randomized to dapagliflozin and 24 to placebo. The mean (SD) age was 59.9 ± 12.1 years, the mean eGFR was 45.7 ± 12.1 mL/min/1.73 m², and the median UACR was 1,694.5 (25%, 75% range 891-2,582.5) mg/g. Two of 19 (11%) patients randomized to dapagliflozin and five of 24 (21%) randomized to placebo experienced the primary composite endpoint. Total and chronic mean eGFR slopes for dapagliflozin and placebo were -3.87 and -4.29 and -2.66 and -4.22 mL/min/1.73 m²/year, respectively; corresponding between-group mean differences were 0.42 and 1.57 mL/min/1.73 m²/year. Dapagliflozin reduced geometric mean (SEM) UACR relative to placebo (-29.3% ± 1.2% vs. -3.6% ± 1.1%; between-group mean difference [95% CI] -26.7 [-50.4, 8.3]). Four (21%) patients randomized to dapagliflozin and seven (29%) randomized to placebo experienced a serious adverse event.

In membranous nephropathy, the effects of dapagliflozin on kidney disease progression and albuminuria were generally favorable; there was insufficient power to justify formal inference testing.