Search

Objectives: The sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors reduce mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear but seem to be irrespective of glucose-lowering properties. This study aims to evaluate the impact of empagliflozin on myocardial biomechanics and correlation with markers of adverse remodeling.Methods: Following myocardial infarct induction to create a model of HF, 14 pigs were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 2 months. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance (FTCMR) were performed at baseline and at the end of the study to analyze myocardial deformation. The results were correlated with markers of adverse cardiac remodeling.Results: Empagliflozin significantly improved STE indices. These parameters significantly correlated with adverse cardiac remodeling. In contrast, FTCMR indices showed only a trend toward improved myocardial deformation and without significant correlation with adverse cardiac remodeling. The correlation between both techniques to assess myocardial deformation was low.Conclusion: Empagliflozin enhances myocardial deformation, assessed by STE techniques, in a non-diabetic porcine model of ischemic HF. This may be related to a mitigation of adverse cardiac remodeling following ischemia reperfusion injury. In contrast, FTCMR technique needs further development and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular mortality by 38% and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations by 35% in diabetic patients. We have recently demonstrated the efficacy of empagliflozin in ameliorating HF and improving cardiac function in a non-diabetic porcine model of HF mediated via a switch in myocardial metabolism that enhances cardiac energetics. Therefore, we hypothesized that the cardiac benefits of empagliflozin can also be extended to non-diabetic HF patients. The EMPA-TROPISM clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled, trial comparing the efficacy of and safety of empagliflozin in non-diabetic HF patients. Eighty patients with stable HF for over 3 months, LVEF < 50%, and New York Heart Association functional class II to IV symptoms will be randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg for 6 months or placebo. All patients will undergo cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), 6-min walk test, and quality of life questionnaires. The primary outcome is the change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume measured by CMR. Secondary end-points include change in peak VO2 (CPET); change in LV mass, in LVEF, in myocardial mechanics (strains), in left atrium volumes, in RV function and volumes, in interstitial myocardial fibrosis, and in epicardial adipose tissue (CMR); change in the distance in the 6-min walk test; and changes in quality of life (Kansas Cardiomyopathy questionnaire [KCCQ-12] and the 36-Item Short Form Survey [SF-36]). Safety issues (e.g., hypoglycemia, urinary infections, ketoacidosis,...) will also be monitored. In summary, EMPA-TROPISM clinical trial will determine whether the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cardiac function and heart failure parameters in non-diabetic HF patients (EMPA-TROPISM [ATRU-4]: Are the "cardiac benefits" of Empagliflozin independent of its hypoglycemic activity; NCT 03485222). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]