Tight glycemic control has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of microvascular complications in type 1 and 2 diabetes. However, tight control comes at a risk of hypoglycemia, which is further increased in advanced diabetic kidney disease. GLP-1 agonists significantly lower HgA1c and have added benefits of early satiety and weight loss. However, the safety and efficacy of these agents has not been well documented in CKD stage 3-4.
This is a retrospective case series of patients with diabetes and CKD stages 3-4 who were prescribed a GLP-1 agonist. Patient demographics, co-morbidities, vital signs, HgA1c, Scr, eGFR, urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) as measured during clinical care were recorded before and after GLP-1 agonist initiation.
A total of 5 patients with diabetes and CKD stage 3-4 were included in this case series. Two patients received exenatide, two liraglutide and one received dulaglutide. Patients were 66.9 years old (47.7-77.6) with the majority being male (60%) and caucasian ethnicity (80%). The median number of co-morbidities was 8 (5-14) with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular complications most common. The median HgA1c at initiation of therapy was 8.3% (8-10.1) and the reduction in HgA1c was 2.2% (0.8-3). The median BMI at initiation of a GLP-1 agonist was 34.3 (27.8-36) kg/m2 and the median decrease in BMI over the duration of therapy was 1 (-0.32-5.7) kg/m2 and the median decrease in BMI over the duration of therapy was 1 (-0.32-5.7) kg/m2 and the median decrease in BMI over the duration of therapy was 1 (-0.32-5.7) kg/m2. The eGFR at initiation of t. The eGFR at initiation of t. The eGFR at initiation of therapy was 46 (29-48) mL/min/1.73 m2 and remained relatively stable over the duration of therapy. The median UPC was 0.21 (0.007-8.39) with a median reduction of 0.11 (-0.05-6.13).<
Overall, each of the GLP-1 agonists was effective in safely reducing HgA1c in older patients with type 2 diabetes and Stage 3-4 CKD without significantly impacting eGFR. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Diabetes, Chronic kidney disease, GLP1 inhibitors, Evidence-based medicine, Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy
Diabetes accounts for 50% of cases of new onset end stage renal disease (ESRD) making it the leading cause [1]. The rate of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is approximately 20 per 10,000 patients and has declined by approximately 28.3% over the last 2 decades [2]. This is attributable to improvements in the early diagnosis and medical management of diabetes.
Tight glycemic control has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of microvascular complications in type 1 and 2 diabetes (T2D) [3,4]. However, tight control comes at the risk of hypoglycemia. The American Diabetes Association has recommended an individualized HbA1c target of 7-8% in patients with co-morbidities and increased risk of hypoglycemia [5]. Recently, the ADVANCE-ON study demonstrated tight glycemic control with an average HbA1c of 7.2% led to a reduction in the onset of ESRD with more pronounced effects in early DKD [6]. In the setting of DKD, patients are at increased risk of hypoglycemia due to reduced gluconeogenesis in the kidney and altered pharmacokinetics of oral and injectable hypoglycemic agents. The half-life of sulfonylureas and insulin are prolonged in chronic kidney disease (CKD) increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. Additionally, the safety of metformin has not been studied in CKD stage 4-5 and is not recommended in advanced CKD due to the increased risk of lactic acidosis. Newer therapies such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors represent exciting therapies for managing T2D and slowing the progression of DKD. The majority of studies to date involving these agents have focused on early DKD with average GFR greater than 60 ml/min/1.73 [7-9].
GLP-1 RAs improve HgA1c by an average of 1% and have added benefits of increased satiety and weight loss [10]. GLP-1 receptors located in the kidney have effects on control of solute and water excretion. Administration of GLP-1 RA is associated with natriuresis, diuresis, reductions in blood pressure and albuminuria as well as slowing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline [10]. GLP-1 RA show considerable promise for improving the outcomes of DKD; however, the safety of these agents has not been studied in advanced CKD stages 3-5. We present a case series of patients with advanced DKD treated with GLP-1 RAs in a comprehensive multidisciplinary CKD clinic. Each patient sees a dietitian, pharmacist, nurse, social worker and physician at every visit. This study was approved by the University of California San Diego Institutional Review Board for the study of human subjects.
In a 50-year-old obese Hispanic male patient with a past medical history (PMH) of T2D, morbid obesity, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, proteinuria, and CKD stage 3a, exenatide extended release (ER) 2 mg injected once weekly (Bydurion) was initiated three years prior. Initial eGFR, urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) and A1C were 47 mL/min, 8.4 g/g and 8.3%, respectively, and the patient was obese with a BMI of 32.2 kg/m2 and weight of 110.7 kg. By the first year of therapy, he experienced a significant improvement in glycemic control and weight loss with an A1C of 5.6% and BMI of 29 kg/m2 and he maintained his weight loss by year three and his A1C continued to decline to 5.3%. His renal function declined over the three year period with a GFR at one and three years of 36 and 29 mL/min, respectively, with improved UPC of 1.9 g/g and 2.3 g/g, respectively. Overall, this younger T2D and CKD stage 3a patient with mildly complex co-morbidities realized significant glycemic control (> 3% A1C reduction, and A1C < 6%), weight loss with a reduction in obesity characterization (BMI < 30 kg/m2) and improved UPC with long term exenatide ER use, despite a decline in GFR.
In a 78-year-old obese Caucasian man with a PMH significant for prostate cancer, major depressive disorder, spinal stenosis, T2D, CKD stage 3, nephrolithiasis, anemia of chronic disease, osteoarthritis (OA), gastro-esophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, HTN, hyperlipidemia (HL), and obesity, exenatide ER 2 mg once weekly was initiated three years prior. Baseline renal, glycemia and weight status were GFR 30 mL/min, UPC 0.09 g/g, A1C 7.1% and BMI 34.2 kg/m2 with weight of 103.5 kg. Along with exenatide ER, the patient followed a weight loss diet. After one year of therapy, during which he experienced one acute kidney injury (AKI) event, he realized a reduction in A1C (6.9%) and weight loss (BMI 29.2 kg/m2 and weight 87.1 kg) without loss of renal function (GFR 31 mL/min and UPC 0.07 g/g). At three years following exenatide ER initiation, his A1C continued to decline (6.2%) and GFR increased to 49 mL/min with stable weight at BMI 29.7 kg/m2. This older patient with a complex medical history experienced moderate glycemic control (A1C reduction 0.9% and < 7% A1C) with an improvement in renal status (GFR increased 19 mL/min). Coupled with an improved diet, at one year following exenatide ER initiation he experienced a significant weight reduction (BMI reduction of 5 kg/m2), which he sustained by year three of therapy.
Liraglutide was titrated to 1.8 mg once daily injections in a 62-year-old Caucasian female with a PMH of T2D, CKD stage 3, HTN, HL, hypothyroidism, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and spinal stenosis. Baseline labs were GFR 39 mL/min, UPC 0.01 g/g, A1C 8.0% and BMI 27.8 kg/m2, and weight 65.8 kg. Following 16 months of therapy, she experienced significant glycemic improvement (A1C reduction to 5.5%), with an increased GFR (46 mL/min with UPC 0.05 g/g) and no change in weight (65.3 kg, BMI 28.1 kg/m2). This middle aged patient with T2D and CKD stage 3 with a complex PMH notable for mobility, multiple metabolic disorders and mental health issues, realized significant glycemic control (2.5% A1C reduction, and A1C < 6%) and slight GFR improvement without weight gain.
Similarly, outcomes were demonstrated in a 67-year-old obese Caucasian female who had a lower baseline GFR of 29 mL/min when liraglutide was initiated and titrated to 1.8 mg once daily. PMH was significant for T2D, CKD stage 4, HTN, HL, hypothyroidism, subclinical depression, and OA. At baseline AIC, BMI and weight were higher (9.1%, 36 kg/m2, and 93.6 kg, respectively). UPC was 0.02 g/g. By one year, she experienced a significant reduction in AIC (7.3%) with no change in weight (BMI 36 kg/m2 and weight 93.7 kg) or renal function (GFR 29 mL/min and UPC 0.01 g/g). At three years following liraglutide initiation, her AIC continued to decline (6.9%), her weight slightly reduced (BMI 35 kg/m2 and weight 89.7 kg) and GFR slightly reduced (26 mL/min with UPC 0.01 g/g). Overall this middle-aged patient experienced significant glycemic control (A1C reduction of 2.2% and A1C < 7%) without significant changes in renal function or weight, which was sustained over a three-year period.
Dulaglutide was titrated to 1.5 mg once weekly injections in a 78-year-old obese Caucasian male patient with a complex PMH consisting of human immunodeficiency virus, recurrent AKIs due to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use, basal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, hepatitis, hepatomegaly, diastolic heart failure, HTN, HL, hypothyroidism and T2D with microvascular complications including retinopathy, CKD stage 3 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Initial GFR, UPC and A1C were 48 mL/min, 0.2 g/g and 10.1%, respectively, and the patient was obese with a BMI of 34.3 kg/m2 and weight of 108.4 kg. Following 8 months of therapy, his A1C declined to 9.2% (0.9% reduction) and his weight remained stable at 106.1 kg with a BMI of 33.7 kg/m2. During this time period he continued to experience recurrent AKIs secondary to ACEI use and hypotension, and his GFR decline to 40 yet his UPC of 0.02 g/g improved. Because clinical glycemic control was not realized (A1C > 9%) within a reasonable time period, dulaglutide was discontinued as the drug cost did not justify continued use. Overall, this older patient with complex comorbidities achieved mild A1C reduction without impacting renal function.
The median BMI at initiation of a GLP-1 agonist was 34.3 (27.8-36) kg/m2 and the median decrease in BMI over the duration of therapy was 1 (-0.32-5.7) kg/m2. The eGFR at initiation of therapy was 46 (29-48) mL/min/1.73 m2 and remained relatively stable over the duration of therapy. The median UPC was 0.21 (0.007-8.39) g/g with a median reduction of 0.11 (-0.05-6.13) g/g.
In this case series, we present five patients with diabetes and CKD stages 3-4 who were prescribed a GLP-1 RA. Two patients received exenatide, two liraglutide and one received dulaglutide. These patients were older with a significant number of comorbidities. We found that in patients with a baseline A1C of 8-10%, the initiation of a GLP-1 RA was associated with a reduction in A1C of 0.8-3%. Additionally, patients lost weight during the course of therapy and kidney function remained relatively stable. When assessing individual drug effects, liraglutide therapy resulted in the greatest A1C reduction (2.2-2.5%) while maintaining a stable GFR and BMI in two patients with a baseline GFR ranging from 29-39 mL/min/1.73 m2. Exenatide ER resulted in an A1C of 1-3% with a significant reduction in BMI 3-5 kg/m2. GFR was maintained in one patient but progressed in the second. Dulaglutide resulted in an A1C reduction of 0.9%, stable weight and improvement in proteinuria but a significant decline in GFR. We evaluated the literature and summarized the effects of GLP-1 agonists on diabetes management in patients with CKD (Table 1).
Table 1: Summary of clinical trials evaluating the use of GLP-1 agonists to treat diabetes in patients with CKD. View Table 1
Liraglutide has demonstrated positive kidney related outcomes in clinical trials (Table 1). In the LEADER trial, patients with T2D receiving liraglutide had a 22% reduction (p = 0.003) in the composite endpoint of persistent macroalbuminuria, decline in GFR to < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 or doubling of SCr [9]. The decline in GFR was found to be 2.48 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year over a 3 year period. In the LIRA-RENAL study, GFR was relatively stable over a 26-week period [11]. In comparison to our patients, we found that GFR either increased or declined at the anticipated age related rate. In addition, we found that neither of the two patients developed new onset persistent proteinuria, consistent with the LEADER findings of a 26% reduction in new onset macroalbuminuria. In the LIRA-RENAL study, proteinuria was reduced by 13% but new onset proteinuria was not reported [11]. In the SCALE trial of 846 overweight and obese patients with T2D, liraglutide resulted in a reduction of 8.4 ± 7.3 kg representing 8 ± 6.7% body weight [12]. Similarly, our patients experienced a modest weight loss of 0.8-4.2%.
The EXSCEL trial was a trial of Bydureon versus placebo in 14,752 patients with T2D examining the impact of treatment on cardiovascular outcomes after 2.4 years of treatment (Table 1). The reduction in A1C and weight was 0.53% (95% CI, -0.57 to -0.50; P < 0.001) and 1.27 kg (95% CI, -1.4 to -1.13; P < 0.001), respectively. Kidney related outcomes were measured for safety purposes. Twenty one percent of study participants had CKD stage 3 at baseline and no difference was found in the incidence of micro- or macroalbuminuria, ESRD or percentage of patients with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 [15]. No information has been published on the change in kidney related outcomes over the course of this study.
Smaller studies have documented changes in kidney related outcomes after treatment with exenatide regular release formulation. A retrospective study of propensity-score-matched patients receiving exenatide twice daily versus insulin glargine demonstrated urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) decreased from 104 mg/g to 47 mg/g, after 1 year of treatment. Patients in this study had a mean eGFR of 79 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline and 21% had CKD stage 3. In this study, eGFR remained stable with the distribution of CKD stage 3 remaining at 21% and stage 4 increasing from 1% to 2% after 1 year [16]. In a study of 31 patients with T2D and microalbuminuria, the use of exenatide versus glimepiride resulted in a reduction in A1C of 1.3%, BMI of 6% and UACR of 38% (p < 0.01) after 16 weeks of treatment while UACR remained stable in the patients treated with glimepiride [17]. In a study of patients who were overweight with T2D and CKD stage 2, administration of exenatide resulted in increased sodium excretion, no statistically significant changes in GFR or kidney damage markers (i.e. proteinuria, NGAL or KIM-1) [18]. Overall, exenatide appears to have no net change in GFR and a reduction in proteinuria. In comparison to our patients, exenatide ER similarly resulted in significant reductions in A1C and BMI, while maintaining GFR in one of the two patients.
Tuttle and colleagues evaluated kidney related outcomes from nine trials of dulaglutide compared to placebo, insulin glargine or an active comparator in 6,005 patients with T2D (Table 1). Overall, the analysis demonstrated no significant difference in eGFR and a reduction in proteinuria. Dulaglutide reduced UACR by 16.7% versus 10.0% in placebo, 20.0% versus 12.5% for active comparators and 20% versus 9.4% for insulin glargine. Fewer patients receiving dulaglutide experienced a 40% decline in eGFR compared to insulin glargine at any point during a 1-year treatment period (0.26% versus 1.25%; P = 0.012) [13].
The AWARD-7 trial will provide insight into the impact of dulaglutide on kidney related outcomes in patients with T2D and Stage 3 to 4 CKD. Preliminary data from this study of 576 patients who received dulaglutide 1.5 mg, 0.75 mg or insulin glargine/lispro was published as an abstract. The majority of the study participants had an eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, 30% had Stage 4 CKD and DKD; 45% with macroalbuminuria and more than 1/3 with microalbuminuria. Higher doses of dulaglutide treatment reduced albuminuria and had a beneficial effect on eGFR decline when compared to patients receiving insulin glargine and lispro. This effect was more pronounced in patients with macroalbuminuria [14]. We did not appreciate these benefits in our patient receiving dulaglutide who had a mild reduction in A1C and progression in CKD. However, he did not continue therapy due to cost and experienced recurrent AKI, which was thought to be the cause of his CKD progression.
Albuminuria in CKD is a risk factor for both end stage kidney disease and cardiovascular disease [19]. Therapeutic interventions targeted at reducing albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of end stage kidney disease [20]. GLP1 is present on the brush border of kidney proximal tubular cells. Inhibiting GLP1 may alter the degradation of peptides in the lumen influencing proximal tubular cell integrity and function in patients with diabetes [21]. GLP1 agonists offer benefits in reducing proteinuria in T2D but have not been studied in advanced CKD. We found that GLP1 agonists are safe and effective therapies for reducing A1c with the benefit of modest weight loss in complex patients with advanced CKD.
The authors do not have conflicting or competing interest.
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
None.