Cited by 100Diabetes Treatment and ManagementChronic Kidney Disease and DiabetesDiabetes Management and Research

Incretins and microvascular complications of diabetes: neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and microangiopathy

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Goldney, Jonathan, Sargeant, Jack A., Davies, Melanie J.·2023·Diabetologia

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs, incretin mimetics) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is, incretin enhancers) are glucose-lowering therapies with proven cardiovascular safety, but their effect on microvascular disease is not fully understood. Both therapies increase GLP-1 receptor agonism, which is associated with attenuation of numerous pathological processes that may lead to microvascular benefits, including decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased inflammation and improved vascular function. DPP-4is also increase stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), which is associated with neovascularisation and tissue repair. Rodent studies demonstrate several benefits of these agents in the prevention or reversal of nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy, but evidence from human populations is less clear. For nephropathy risk in human clinical trials, meta-analyses demonstrate that GLP-1RAs reduce the risk of a composite renal outcome (doubling of serum creatinine, eGFR reduction of 30%, end-stage renal disease or renal death), whereas the benefits of DPP-4is appear to be limited to reductions in the risk of albuminuria. The relationship between GLP-1RAs and retinopathy is less clear. Many large trials and meta-analyses show no effect, but an observed increase in the risk of retinopathy complications with semaglutide therapy (a GLP-1RA) in the SUSTAIN-6 trial warrants caution, particularly in individuals with baseline retinopathy. Similarly, DPP-4is are associated with increased retinopathy risk in both trials and meta-analysis. The association between GLP-1RAs and peripheral neuropathy is unclear due to little trial evidence. For DPP-4is, one trial and several observational studies show a reduced risk of peripheral neuropathy, with others reporting no effect. Evidence in other less-established microvascular outcomes, such as microvascular angina, cerebral small vessel disease, skeletal muscle microvascular disease and autonomic neuropathies (e.g. cardiac autonomic neuropathy, gastroparesis, erectile dysfunction), is sparse. In conclusion, GLP-1RAs are protective against nephropathy, whereas DPP-4is are protective against albuminuria and potentially peripheral neuropathy. Caution is advised with DPP-4is and semaglutide, particularly for patients with background retinopathy, due to increased risk of retinopathy. Well-designed trials powered for microvascular outcomes are needed to clarify associations of incretin therapies and microvascular diseases.

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  • GLP-1 receptor agonists improve microvascular function, myocardial structure, insulin sensitivity, and vascular protection; and reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurohormonal activation.

    “GLP-1 receptor agonists improve microvascular function, 37 myocardial structure, 38 insulin sensitivity, 39 and vascular protection; 40,41 and reduce inflammation, 39,42 oxidative stress, 43 and neurohormonal activation 44”

    From Semaglutide versus placebo in people with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a pooled analysis of the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM randomised trials (2024) · cites this paper as [39]

    The “Microvascular disease and the potential of incretin therapies” section reports improved vascular function and reduced reactive oxygen species, and suggests an anti-inflammatory effect. It says insulin sensitivity *may* improve, rather than establishing that it does. The supplied passages do not support the claims about myocardial structure or reduced neurohormonal activation, which have separate citations in the citing sentence. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Goldney, J., Sargeant, J. A., & Davies, M. J.
Affiliations
University of Leicester (GB)
Corresponding author
Goldney, Jonathan
Venue
Diabetologia
Published
2023-08-19
Volume
66
Issue
10
Pages
1832-1845
ISSN
  • 0012-186X (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0428
OpenAlex
W4386001286
Cited by
100
References
98
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 1
FWCI
3.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetologia (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, UK
  • National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellowship
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Nephrology › Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
Keywords
incretins, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, diabetic microvascular complications, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, albuminuria, semaglutide, SUSTAIN 6 trial, cardiovascular safety, renal outcomes, retinopathy risk, peripheral neuropathy, microvascular angina, cerebral small vessel disease
MeSH terms
Albuminuria, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Retinopathy, Humans, Kidney Diseases, Male, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, Retinal Diseases, Vascular Diseases, Incretins

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