ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: No other class of drugs has caused as much of a stir in the last decade as sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) or gliflozines. At the latest since the SGLT-2i originally developed as a diabetes mellitus drug unexpectedly also showed protective effects for heart and kidney in pivotal studies, they are now the talk of the town. Although the cellular and molecular mechanisms have not yet been clarified in all details, they have revolutionized therapeutic approaches for diabetes mellitus, heart failure independent of left ventricular ejection fraction, and nephropathies based on positive data available. The purpose of this article is to review the effects and postulated mechanisms of action of SGLT-2 inhibitors, particularly in heart failure and renal failure, and to outline their potential risks and side effects.
