Department of Family Medicine, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Ohio robert.gotfried@utoledo.edu
The authors reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.
The author has lectured on behalf of Pfizer and Kos/Abbott. He has participated in clinical trials for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, KOS/Abbott, Novartis, and Janssen. He has wholly declined compensation from pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers.
Cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported in association with all DPP-4 inhibitors available in the United States. A combined analysis of DDP-4 inhibitor trials suggested an increased relative risk of 79% and an absolute risk of 0.13%, which translates to 1 or 2 additional cases of acute pancreatitis for every 1000 patients treated for 2 years.28
There have been numerous postmarketing reports of severe joint pain in patients taking a DPP-4 inhibitor. Most recently, cases of bullous pemphigoid have been reported after initiation of DPP-4 inhibitor therapy.29
GLP-1 receptor agonists carry a black box warning for medullary thyroid (C-cell) tumor risk. GLP-1 receptor agonists are contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of this cancer, although this FDA warning is based solely on observations from animal models.
In addition, GLP-1 receptor agonists can increase the risk of cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Not uncommonly, they cause gastrointestinal symptoms when first started and when the dosage is titrated upward. Most GLP-1 receptor agonists can be used in patients with renal impairment, although data regarding their use in Stages 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease are limited.30 Semaglutide was found, in the SUSTAIN-6 trial, to be associated with an increased rate of complications of retinopathy, including vitreous hemorrhage and blindness (P = .02)31
SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with an increased incidence of genitourinary infection, bone fracture (canagliflozin), amputation (canagliflozin), and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Agents in this class should be avoided in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment, primarily due to a lack of efficacy. They are contraindicated in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. (Dapagliflozin is not recommended when eGFR is < 45 mL/min/ 1.73 m2.) These agents carry an FDA warning about the risk of acute kidney injury.30