Can sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor reduce the risk of adverse complications due to COVID-19?–Targeting hyperinflammation

Alshnbari, Afnan; Idris, Iskandar

Abstract

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are antidiabetic drugs with numerous pleiotropic and positive clinical effects, particularly regarding a reno-cardiovascular protective effect. More recent studies, including from our laboratory, have highlighted some novel anti-inflammatory activity of SGLT-2 inhibitors. This may confer a theoretical advantage in mitigating excessive cytokine production and inflammatory response associated with serious COVID-19 infection. Specifically, earlier research has demonstrated that SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with a notable decrease in inflammatory indicators, for example, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, SGLT-2 inhibitors exhibit a favourable impact on the vascular endothelium function; this could pertinence the prophylaxis of the thrombotic issues that arise in SARS-CoV-2. This review provides an overview of the COVID-19 indirect immune response mechanisms impacting the cardiovascular system and the possible effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on the management of COVID-19.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 6, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2022
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 11, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 2, 2023
• Journal: Current Medical Research and Opinion
• Print ISSN: 0300-7995
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-4877
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 357-364
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2022.2027141
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7222089
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2022.2027141
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Current Medical Research and Opinion on 20 Jan 2022, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03007995.2022.2027141