Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors in Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis is a chronic and life-threatening autoimmune cause of kidney disease that predominately impacts young people and can lead to kidney failure. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, including dapagliflozin, are known to improve outcomes for people with other causes of chronic kidney disease. This pilot and feasibility randomized clinical trial will test the use of dapagliflozin versus placebo in addition to standard of care treatment for patients with early and active lupus nephritis, a group who has not been included in past trials.
• • Age 18-70 years, fulfilling 2012 SLICC or 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria for SLE, with biopsy-proven class III, IV and/or V LN
‣ Active (new or relapsing) LN within the prior six months, with at least one of the following:
• Kidney biopsy with activity index \>2 and/or
∙ Active urinary sediment (\>5 RBCs, \>5 WBCs, or cellular casts)
⁃ Receiving standard-of-care immunosuppression regimen for active LN, including mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, belimumab, azathioprine, a calcineurin inhibitor, and/or B cell depleting therapies
⁃ Recent or ongoing glucocorticoids use for active LN within the past 6 months
⁃ Receiving standard-of-care antimalarial therapy and RAAS blockade, unless contraindicated
⁃ Estimated ≥0.5 g/g 24 hr proteinuria or ≥0.3 mg/g 24 hr microalbuminuria at enrollment (on first morning urine)
⁃ Ability to given informed consent