Abstract
Dapagliflozin is a highly selective inhibitor of sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT-2) that is reponsible for renal glukose reabsorption. SGLT-2 inhibition by dapagliflozin increases kidney glukose excretion with the subsequent decrease of blood glukose and the improvement of diabetic compensation.
Dapagliflozin is presently approved in Europe for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in monotherapy (in patiens with metformin intolerance) or in combination with other antidiabetic medications including insulin. Dapagliflozin administrativ not only improves diabetes compensation but also modestly decreases body weight and blood pressure.
The advantage of dapagliflozin lies in its unique mechanism of action that is complemetary to the effects of the other antidiabetic mediícations and in the fact that it does not induce hypoglycemia. The aim of this paper is to sumarize basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information concerning dapagliflozin and its current position and perspectives in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.