Ligliptin for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with early renal injury: Efficacy and impact on endogenous hydrogen sulfide and endothelial function

BACKGROUND Diabetes is a clinically common chronic disease, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Diabetes is believed to accelerate the process of atherosclerosis in patients, and abnormal endothelial function is an important factor leading to diabetic kidney damage. AIM To investigate the efficacy of ligliptin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with early renal injury and its effect on serum endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S), endothelial cell particles, and endothelial function. METHODS From January 2018 to April 2019, 110 patients with T2DM and early kidney injury treated at our hospital were divided into an observation group (receiving ligliptin treatment, n = 54) and a control group (receiving gliquidone therapy, n = 56). Blood glucose and renal function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The differences in fasting blood glucose, 2 h blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin were not statistically significant between the two groups after treatment. The urinary albumin excretion rate after treatment in the ligliptin group was 70.32 ± 11.21 µg/min, which was significantly lower than that of the gliquidone group (P = 0.000). Serum endogenous H2S and endothelial cell microparticles of the ligliptin treatment group were 40.04 ± 8.82 mol/L and 133.40 ± 34.39, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the gliquidone treatment group (P = 0.000 for both); endothelin-dependent diastolic function and nitric oxide after treatment in the ligliptin group were 7.98% ± 1.22% and 190.78 ± 30.32 mol/L, significantly higher than those of the gliquidone treatment group (P = 0.000 for both). CONCLUSION Ligliptin treatment of T2DM with early renal injury has the same glucose-lowering effect as gliquidone treatment. Ligliptin treatment has a better effect and it can significantly improve the renal function and vascular endothelial function of patients, and reduce serum endogenous H2S and endothelial cell particle levels.