Effect of Genetic Polymorphism on the Clinical Outcome to SGLT2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure Patients

Overview

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in improving renal outcomes in patients with HFrEF. Pharmacogenetics, the study of how genetic variations influence drug response, could elucidate inter-individual variability in treatment outcomes. This study aims to assess the impact of specific genetic variants on renal outcomes in HFrEF patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors.

Heart failure is broadly classified into two main types based on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). HFpEF is characterized by a preserved or relatively normal LVEF, typically equal to or greater than 50%, despite signs and symptoms of heart failure. In contrast, HFrEF is defined by a reduced LVEF, typically less than or equal to 40%. \[4\] Accurate categorization of HF into HFpEF or HFrEF enables healthcare providers to implement targeted therapeutic approaches. The intricate nature of heart failure necessitates a comprehensive approach to its diagnosis and management, given its varying presentations and underlying mechanisms. Heart injury, precipitated by diverse causes such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, and cardiomyopathies, triggers a complex and deleterious process of pathological remodeling and fibrosis within the cardiac tissue. This progressive cascade of events ultimately leads to the manifestation of heart failure. The pathophysiological mechanisms driving this progression are multifaceted, involving intricate cellular responses, neurohormonal activation, and inflammatory pathways. The initial insult, such as ischemic injury from myocardial infarction or chronic pressure overload from hypertension, sets in motion a series of maladaptive responses within the myocardium. These responses include cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and alterations in extracellular matrix composition, which collectively impair myocardial contractility and promote ventricular dysfunction over time. SGLT2 inhibitors, initially developed to manage blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, now form part of the latest therapeutic strategies for heart failure as outlined in the 2022 AHA guidelines. This class, which includes empagliflozin, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, has been shown to significantly reduce hospitalizations for heart failure and cardiovascular mortality in patients with symptomatic chronic HFrEF, irrespective of the presence of type 2 diabetes. Empagliflozin, a specific SGLT2I, has been particularly studied for its cardio-renal protective effects. Research by Miyata et al. (2021) has revealed that Empagliflozin goes beyond glycemic control by exerting beneficial effects on inflammatory and fibrotic markers.