The Effect of SGLT-2 Inhibitors on Blood Pressure: A Pleiotropic Action Favoring Cardio- and Nephroprotection

Strict blood pressure (BP) control in patients with diabetes is associated with reductions in cardiovascular and renal risk. SGLT-2 inhibitors act in the proximal tubule to reduce glucose reabsorption. They also have mild natriuretic and diuretic effects, combining properties of proximal tubule diuretics and osmotic diuretics, which are expected to reduce BP. Several lines of evidence suggests that SGLT-2 inhibitors produce mild but meaningful reductions in BP and also decrease the incidence of renal outcomes, cardiovascular events and mortality. Thus, recent guidelines for type 2 diabetes suggest that among oral agents to use together with metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors should be preferred in patients at increased cardiovascular risk, kidney disease or heart failure. This review summarizes current literature on the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on BP, and its potential relationships with cardio- and nephroprotection.