Maximizing Cardiorenal Protection: The Superiority of Combined Finerenone and SGLT2i Therapy
Antonio Augusto FARIA CASTRO, Henrique CARVALHO GOES, Gabriela RODRIGUES GARCIA, Pedro DIRCEU ORTOLANI JÚNIOR and Paula PERCHES ORTOLANI
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common and progressive complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), induced by sustained hyperglycemia that promotes glomerular injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). In this context, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) demonstrate renoprotective effects by reducing intraglomerular pressure, whereas finerenone modulates renal inflammatory and fibrotic pathways via selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of finerenone and SGLT2i in patients with CKD and T2DM.A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database using the keywords ‘Diabetes mellitus’, ‘Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor’, and ‘Finerenone’. These descriptors were associated using the Boolean operator ‘AND’, and the search was filtered to clinical trials published in the last 5 years.Trials indicate finerenone reduces CKD progression and cardiovascular events, with a noted hyperkalemia risk. SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) demonstrate efficacy in reducing albuminuria and providing cardiorenal protection. The CONFIDENCE trial reported that combined therapy (finerenone plus empagliflozin) reduced the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) by 52% after 180 days. This reduction was numerically superior to monotherapy: 29% greater than finerenone alone and 32% greater than empagliflozin alone. Safety data showed the combination did not result in unexpected adverse events compared to individual agents.The combined regimen's superiority suggests synergy between SGLT2i hemodynamic effects and finerenone’s anti-inflammatory/anti-fibrotic mechanisms. While finerenone carries a hyperkalemia risk, data suggests this is manageable and does not outweigh the significant reduction in albuminuria, a key surrogate marker for renal outcomes. The absence of unexpected adverse signals implies that maximizing cardiorenal blockade through this dual pathway is a safe strategy for high-risk patients.The review of studies highlights benefits with both monotherapy and combined therapy of finerenone and SGLT2i in patients with CKD and T2DM. However, the combination of finerenone and SGLT2i presents superior clinical benefit in reducing albuminuria in this population, amplifying cardiorenal benefits without compromising safety. These findings reinforce the potential of combined therapy as a new therapeutic standard in diabetic nephropathy, and it should be considered in clinical practice and future guidelines.
