Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i's) improve heart failure (HF) related outcomes. The mechanisms underlying these benefits are not well understood, but diuretic properties may contribute. Traditional diuretics, such as furosemide, induce substantial neurohormonal activation contributing to the limited improvement in intravascular volume often seen with these agents. However, the proximal tubular site of action of the SGLT-2i's may help circumvent these limitations. Methods: 20 patients with type-2 diabetes and chronic, stable HF completed a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study of empagliflozin 10mg daily vs. placebo. Patients underwent an intensive 6-hour biospecimen collection and cardio-renal phenotyping at baseline and again after 14 days of study drug. After a 2-week washout, patients crossed over to the alternate therapy with repeat of the above protocol. Results: Oral empagliflozin was rapidly absorbed as evidenced by a 27-fold increase in urinary glucose excretion by 3 hours (p<0.0001). Fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) increased significantly with empagliflozin monotherapy vs. placebo (FENa 1.2 ± 0.7% vs. 0.7 ± 0.4% p=0.001) and there was a synergistic effect in combination with bumetanide (FENa 5.8 ± 2.5% vs. 3.9 ± 1.9%, p=0.001). At 14 days, the natriuretic effect of empagliflozin persisted, resulting in a reduction in blood volume (-208mL, IQR -536 to 153 mL vs -14mL, IQR -282 to 335 mL, p=0.035), and plasma volume (-138mL, IQR -379 to 154mL ± 453 mL, p=0.04). This natriuresis was not, however, associated with evidence of neurohormonal activation as change in norepinephrine was superior (p = 0.02) and all other neurohormones similar (p<0.34) during the empagliflozin vs. placebo period. Furthermore, there was no evidence of potassium wasting (p=0.20), or renal dysfunction (p>0.11 for all biomarkers), whereas both serum magnesium (p<0.001) and uric acid levels (p=0.008) improved. Conclusions: Empagliflozin causes significant natriuresis, particularly when combined with loop diuretics, resulting in an improvement in blood volume. However, off-target electrolyte wasting, renal dysfunction, and neurohormonal activation were not observed. This favorable diuretic profile may offer significant advantage in the management of volume status in HF patients and may represent a mechanism contributing to the superior long-term HF outcomes observed with these agents. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT03029760
Clinically silent double pituitary adenomas consisting of corticotroph and somatotroph cells are an exceedingly rare clinical finding. In this report, we present the case of a 28-year-old man with a 1-year history of recurrent headaches. Imaging revealed a 2.1 (anterior-posterior) × 2.2 (transverse) × 1.3 (craniocaudal) cm pituitary adenoma invading into the left cavernous sinus and encasing the left internal carotid artery. Endoscopic transnasal resection was performed without complications. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a double adenoma consisting of distinct sparsely granulated somatotroph and densely granulated corticotroph cells that were positive for growth hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone, respectively. Ki-67 index labeling revealed a level of 6% within the corticotroph adenoma. No increase in serum growth hormone or adrenocorticotropic hormone was found, indicating a clinically silent double adenoma. While transsphenoidal surgery remains a first-line approach for silent adenomas presenting with mass effects, increased rates of proliferative markers, such as the Ki-67 index, provide useful insight into the clinical course of such tumors. Determining the Ki-67 index of silent pituitary adenomas could be valuable in predicting recurrence after initial surgical resection and identifying tumors that are at an increased risk of needing additional therapeutic interventions or more frequent surveillance imaging.
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