title: The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in challenging patient groups.
abstract: Treating hyperglycemia is a critical aspect of managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but can be especially challenging in patients from vulnerable groups such as those with chronic kidney disease, African Americans, and older people. The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors are relatively new oral antidiabetes drugs that have been incorporated into treatment algorithms over the past few years and have also been studied in these vulnerable patients. Clinical trials with DPP-4 inhibitors have now been reported for all these patient groups and have demonstrated significant improvements in measures of hyperglycemia, with a good safety profile. Based on the current evidence, it appears that the DPP-4 inhibitors are worthy of consideration not only for the most straightforward patients with T2DM, but also for these vulnerable patients.
authors.affiliation: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1945 State Route 33, PO Box 397, Neptune, NJ, 07754-0397, USA, dkountz@meridianhealth.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kountz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors