Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) and mortality in stable patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Background: Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) is a novel blood biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function and was found to be independently associated with worsening kidney function and mortality. A novel penKid-based estimated glomerular filtration rate equation (eGFR), outperforms current creatinine-based eGFR equations in predicting iohexol or iothalamate plasma clearance-based measured GFR. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of penKid and eGFR for all-cause mortality in stable patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Empagliflozin reduces markers of acute kidney injury in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Aims: In this prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, exploratory study, we examined early and more delayed effects of empagliflozin treatment on haemodynamic parameters (primary endpoint: cardiac output) and kidney function including parameters of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: Patients with acute decompensated HF with or without diabetes were randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg or placebo for 30 days. Haemodynamic, laboratory, and urinary parameters were assessed after 6 h, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 30 days of treatment.

Effects of empagliflozin on markers of calcium and phosphate homeostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes - Data from a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background And Aim: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucose-lowering drugs that increase urinary glucose excretion have been shown to reduce CV events in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors affect calcium and phosphate homeostasis, but the effect of empagliflozin on these biomarkers is hitherto not investigated in detail. Therefore, this analysis of the EMPA hemodynamics study examined effects of empagliflozin on calcium and phosphate homeostasis.

Long COVID-19: Objectifying most self-reported neurological symptoms.

Objectives: We aimed to objectify and compare persisting self-reported symptoms in initially hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by applying clinical standardized measures.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection including medical history, neurological examination, blood markers, neuropsychological testing, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results: Fifty patients with persisting symptoms for at least 4 weeks were included and classified by initial hospitalization status.

Effects of empagliflozin on lipoprotein subfractions in patients with type 2 diabetes: data from a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background And Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, glucose-lowering drugs that increase urinary glucose excretion, have been shown to reduce CV events in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), despite the fact that these agents increase blood levels of the proatherogenic low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). It has been hypothesized that hemoconcentration due to osmotic diuresis, effects on calculated LDL particle size, or a modulation of lipoprotein subfractions may play a role in this context but to date the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Therefore, the present study examined effects of empagliflozin on LDL-C and lipoprotein subfractions including calculated LDL particle size and composition.

Empagliflozin does not change cardiac index nor systemic vascular resistance but rapidly improves left ventricular filling pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled study.

Background: In the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial) treatment with the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin significantly reduced heart failure hospitalization (HHF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and established cardiovascular disease. The early separation of the HHF event curves within the first 3 months of the trial suggest that immediate hemodynamic effects may play a role. However, hitherto no data exist on early effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on hemodynamic parameters and cardiac function.