Safety and efficacy of antihyperglycaemic agents in diabetic kidney disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the major contributor to the mortality and the financial burden of diabetes, accounting for approximately 50% of the cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the developed world. Several studies have already demonstrated that achieving blood pressure targets in DKD with agents blocking the renin-angiotensin system confer superior renoprotection when compared to other agents. However, the effects on renal outcomes of antihyperglycaemic agents in these patients have not been reported or studied broadly until recent years.