title: Luseogliflozin and other sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: no enemy but time?
abstract: Glycosuria is being increasingly recognised as not only a symptom but also as a novel therapeutic approach in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This is accomplished through sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Consequently, the safety and efficacy of these new agents have been thoroughly studied, both in randomised controlled trials and in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. More recently, a review on the mechanism of action, clinical efficacy and safety of luseogliflozin, a new highly selective SGLT2 inhibitor approved and launched in Japan for T2DM, has documented that this drug lowers plasma glucose concentration and body weight, and that it exhibits benefits in other metabolic parameters with a good safety profile. Despite the promising characteristics of this drug, important issues await consideration. These include the question as to when and to whom early use of SGLT2 inhibitors would be most suitable, as well as instructions on reduction of sulfonylurea dosage during add-on treatment. Further important questions are long-term safety concerns and cost-effectiveness of this new therapeutic class. Finally, we need to know more about the potential differences between the various SGLT2 inhibitors, as such differences might prove clinically useful in selection of hypoglycaemic agents.
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Diabetes Clinic, Second Department of Internal Medicine , G. Kondyli 22c, Alexandroupolis 68100 , Greece papanasnikos@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pafili
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D013012:Sorbitol; C549343:1,5-anhydro-1-(5-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-2-methoxy-4-methylphenyl)-1-thioglucitol
keywords: diabetes mellitus; luseogliflozin; oral hypoglycaemic agents; sodium-glucose transport inhibitors; therapy.