Publication at Second Faculty of Medicine |
2009
Abstract
The gliptins sitagliptin and vildagliptin are a novel class of antidiabetic agents. These drugs are dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP- 4) inhibitors that increase the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) level twofold to threefold.
Clinically, both DPP-4 inhibitors are comparable in their blood glucose level lowering effect, evaluated as the change in the glycated hemoglobin level. No consistent effect on the lipid levels has been proved.
Although expected, the effect on cardiovascular risk has not been clearly evidenced yet. Hypoglycemia risk associated with DPP-4 inhibitor monotherapy is comparable to that associated with placebo and is the same for both drugs.