Empagliflozin Decreased Proteinuria in Patients with Glomerulonephritis without Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: Empagliflozin (EMPA) is a new class of hypoglycemic drugs acting as a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor. In addition to reducing blood sugar, cardiovascular complications, and mortality rate, EMPA also has kidney protective properties (such as reducing proteinuria, progression of albuminuria, and the rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline). Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the effect of EMPA on proteinuria in non-diabetes mellitus (non-DM) patients with glomerulonephritis.

Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 60 non-DM patients with glomerulonephritis that were assigned into 2 groups of 30. All patients received their usual treatment. Patients in the first group received EMPA 10 mg tablets daily (EMPA group), while patients in the control group received placebo daily (placebo group) for 3 months.

Results: The results of the present study showed that the mean change weight decreased in the EMPA group and increased in the control group (−0.25 kg vs. +0.10 kg; P < .001). Although eGFR decreased over time, there was not any significant difference between the EMPA and control groups at either the start or the end of study (−2.72 mL/min/1.73m2 vs. −1.89 mL/min/1.73m2 , P = .767). Proteinuria decreased and increased significantly in EMPA and control groups, respectively (−118.06 mg/24h vs. +233.69 mg/24h, P = .013).

Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that EMPA administration can play an effective role in reducing proteinuria in patients with glomerulonephritis.

Cite this article as: Taheri S, Mortazavi M, Seirafian S, Atapour A, Moeinzadeh F, Golpayegani J. Empagliflozin decreased proteinuria in patients with glomerulonephritis without diabetes: A randomized clinical trial. Turk J Nephrol. 2025;34(4):272-280.