Title:Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Ischemic Stroke
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Dimitrios Milonas and Konstantinos Tziomalos*
Affiliation:
- First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki,Greece
Keywords:
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity,
dyslipidemia.
Abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with substantially increased
risk for cardiovascular events, including ischemic stroke. In turn, ischemic stroke represents a
leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. The recent class of glucose-lowering
agents is sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which act through inhibition of
glucose reabsorption in the kidney, resulting in glucose excretion without stimulating insulin
release. Accumulating data suggests that these agents improve multiple risk factors for ischemic
stroke except their glucose-lowering effect.
Objective: In the present review, the pleiotropic actions of SGLT-2 inhibitors are summarized and
their potential implications on ischemic stroke prevention are discussed.
Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of the literature in terms of SGLT-2 inhibitors
efficacy on ischemic stroke and traditional risk factors of cerebrovascular disease.
Results: Several studies consistently showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce blood pressure, induce
weight loss, increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduce triglyceride levels. In
addition, they improve several emerging cardiovascular risk factors, most notably arterial stiffness,
albuminuria and oxidative stress. However, in the only trial that evaluated the effects of these
agents on the incidence of ischemic stroke, empagliflozin did not reduce the risk of first or recurrent
stroke despite a significant reduction in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
Conclusion: Despite the multiple pleiotropic effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors, these agents do not
appear to affect stroke risk. Ongoing large trials with longer follow-up will evaluate whether the
pleiotropic effects of this class will translate into benefits in ischemic stroke prevention.
