[Hypoglycemia in a patient treated with a SGLT2-inhibitor with HFrEF without diabetes mellitus].

ANAMNESE: HFrEF (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25-30 % was detected in a 79-year-old man. For further treatment, inpatient cardiac rehabilitation war carried out.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: At the start of the cardiac rehabilitation, patient complained of shortness of breath with little exertion, corresponding to NYHA III. Drug therapy included empagliflozin 10 mg, sacubitril/valsartan 24/26 mg, edoxaban 60 mg, torasemide 5 mg, verapamil 80 mg and amiodarone 200 mg.

INVESTIGATIONS: The daily blood sugar profile showed hypoglycemia with values ​​< 3.7 mmol/l (< 67 mg/dl). After consultation with the patient, these occurred with normal food intake and were symptomatic in form of dizziness during the period of hypoglycaemia.

DIAGNOSIS: Symptomatic hypoglycaemia on SGLT2(sodium-glucose linked transporter 2)-inhibitor therapy in a patient with HFrEF without diabetes mellitus.

THERAPY AND PROGRESS: The therapy with empaglifozin was stopped and a new daily blood sugar profile was carried out, which no longer showed any hypoglycaemic values.

CONCLUSION

The presented case raises awareness of the side effect of hypoglycaemia, which occurs very rarely with SGLT2 inhibitors in studies in patients with HFrEF without the presence of diabetes mellitus.