Metformin and renal impairment

At what stage should a patient with renal dysfunction stop medication using Metformin? To act too conservatively, does it mean to keep the patient away from the benefits of first-line medicine like metformin? What are the ideas of international diabetes associations in this regard? Or what are we going to give as an alternative?

​​In recent years, it has begun to be mentioned that cutt-off values ​​that have been used in America for a long time (serum creatinine> 1.5 mg / dL [> 133 mmol / L] or 1.4 mg / dL [124 mmol / L] are extremely limiting.

In the NICE guideline, in 2010, the cut-off value of creatinine determined for metformin was 150 μmol / L (1.7 mg / dL) or the calculated GFR was <30 mL / min / 1.73 m 2.

In the Canadian guideline published in the same year, it was suggested that if the calculated GFR <60 mL / min / 1.73 m 2, it should be used with caution and warnings, and should be cut if the calculated GFR <30 mL / min / 1.73 m 2.

In the same year, the Australian Diabetes Association recommends stopping the drug when the calculated GFR <30 mL / min / 1.73 m2. Careful use of metformin has been suggested when the calculated GFR is 45-60 mL / min / 1.73 m2 (3).

EMA (European Medicines Agency) has informed that about one year ago, considering the European-based considerations, the limits of renal function for metformin use could be relaxed a little more.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) have briefly addressed this issue in 2015 (4).

In the article, if the calculated GFR is between 45-60 mL / min / 1.73 m2, it has been argued that the prescription of metformin is not contraindicated. Even in the same article, there are considerations for using metformin by careful follow up until the calculated GFR <30 mL / min / 1.73 m2.It is emphasized that DPP-4 inhibitors may be an option but dose adjustment should be considered (except for linagliptin) for renal insufficiency.

Eventually in August 2016, the FDA made a safety announcement for metformin. The FDA announced that metformin could be used for mild and moderate renal insufficiency in the light of accumulated data in the literature.

REFERANCES

1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.The Management of Type 2 Diabetes: 2010 NICE Guidelines [Internet]. London, U.K., National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2010. Available fromhttp://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12165/44320/44320.pdf. Accessed 21 October 2010

2. Canadian Diabetes Association. Clinical practice guidelines [Internet]. 2008. Available fromhttp://www.diabetes.ca/files/cpg2008/cpg-2008.pdf. Accessed 5 December 2010

3. National evidence based guidelines for blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. [Internet]. Available fromhttp://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/di19-diabetes-blood-glucose-control.pdf. Accessed 5 December 2010.

4. Diabetes Care. 2015;38:140-149



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