Abstract
Increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its complications worldwide emphasizes the importance of its novel treatment options. While metformin is clearly considered a first-choice treatment optimal add-on medication to metformin is still intensively discussed.
The group of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4) represents a very promising option with good efficacy and low risk of side effect that are commonly present with the use of traditional sulphonylureas. Linagliptin is one of the representatives of DPP-4 inhibitors differing from other members of this group by unique pharmacokinetics.
This feature enables its administration to not only type 2 diabetics without complications but also to patients with all stages of renal or liver impairment without a need of dose adjustment and with low risk of drug to drug interactions. The aim of this paper is to review current information concerning the use of linagliptin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and to discuss its role in the current treatment algorithm of this disease.
In addition to well-established clinical effects, novel findings concerning potential cardio- and nephroprotectivity of linagliptin will be discussed.