Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2026

Method of Direct Segmental Intra-hepatic Delivery Using a Rat Liver Hilar Clamp Model
Published on: April 2, 2017
Protective Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i) on Liver Function: Results From MELD Analysis
Tomasz Urbanowicz1, Monika Bajsert2, Monika Łucja Kowalczyk2
1Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND Coronary artery disease is associated with long-term systemic inflammation and perioperative multiorgan vulnerability, including transient hepato-renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) provide cardiorenal protection beyond glucose lowering via anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and endothelial effects, but their effect on perioperative liver-related risk markers, including the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) remains uncertain. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively studied 111 consecutive patients undergoing elective OPCAB in 2024 (chronic hepatic or renal disease excluded). Patients were stratified by long-term preoperative SGLT2i therapy (≥3 months): no SGLT2i (n = 85) vs SGLT2i (n = 26). MELD score, bilirubin, international normalized ratio , and creatinine were assessed preoperatively and on postoperative days 1 and 6. Between-group comparisons used the Mann-Whitney U test; within-group changes were analyzed using the Friedman test, Kendall's W, and Bonferroni post hoc testing RESULTS Baseline MELD and components were comparable. On postoperative day 1, SGLT2i group exhibited lower bilirubin (P < 0.001), INR (P = 0.04), and MELD score (P = 0.03), but higher creatinine (P = 0.002). By day 6, differences attenuated. Within-group analysis showed significant time effects for MELD, INR, and creatinine in both groups, with large effect sizes (W = 0.48-0.88). Total bilirubin changed over time in the control but not the SGLT2i group. CONCLUSIONS Long-term preoperative SGLT2i therapy was associated with distinct perioperative MELD dynamics in OPCAB, with relative preservation of bilirubin and INR despite creatinine changes, suggesting the potential modulation of hepatic function during perioperative stress. Given the observational design and possible confounding, results are hypothesis-generating and warrant prospective confirmation..
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Secondary Active Transport
Secondary Active Transport
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones