A new study reveals that certain anti-diabetic drugs, DPP-4 inhibitors, may be at increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease.
The use of dipeptidyl peptisade-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically since their introduction almost a decade ago. However, a team of Canadian researchers is warning doctors that their use is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
Their results are published in the BMJ of March 21, 2018.
2nd or even 3rd line treatment
DPP-4 inhibitors are usually prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes who do not respond well to other diabetes treatments.
Their mechanism of action is based on the blockade of the enzyme DPP-4, which is involved in the inflammatory response and the regulation of the secretion of intestinal hormones.
75% increased risk
A Canadian team analyzed the records of 141,170 patients from the Clinical Practice Research database in the United Kingdom. Many factors were taken into account: age, weight (BMI), smoking, alcohol-related disorders and complications from diabetes. The follow-up lasted an average of three and a half years. During this period, 208 new cases of inflammatory bowel disease were identified.
In practice, the use of DPP-4 inhibitors is associated with a 75% increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, this association gradually increased with longer durations of use, reaching a peak after 3 to 4 years but decreasing after more than 4 years of use.
The researchers nevertheless specify that their study is observational and that in no case can a conclusion be drawn on a possible cause and effect link.
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