Role of incretin based therapies in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a serious microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite advancements in blood glucose and blood pressure (BP) control, ~20% to 40% of patients with diabetes mellitus develop DKD. Intensive glycaemic and BP control positively influence decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria, thereby delaying the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Incretin based therapies namely glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are widely used glucose lowering agents and have shown favorable renal outcomes in DKD. This article discusses the extra-glycaemic properties of incretin based therapies and their renoprotective effects on components of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia; reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation; and increase in natriuresis.