The effects of empagliflozin on measured glomerular filtration rate and estimated extracellular and plasma volumes in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims To investigate the effects of empagliflozin on measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR), estimated plasma volume (PV) and estimated extracellular volume (ECV) in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high risk of cardiovascular events. Materials and Methods In this prespecified substudy of the randomized, placebo‐controlled SIMPLE trial, patients with T2D at high risk of cardiovascular events were allocated to either empagliflozin 25 mg or placebo once daily for 13 weeks. The prespecified outcome was between‐group change in mGFR, measured by the 51Cr‐EDTA method after 13 weeks; changes in estimated PV and estimated ECV were included. Results From April 4, 2017 to May 11, 2020, 91 participants were randomized. Of these, 45 patients from the empagliflozin group and 45 patients from the placebo group were included in the intention‐to‐treat analysis. Treatment with empagliflozin reduced mGFR by −7.9 mL/min (95% confidence interval [CI] −11.1 to −4.7; P