Linagliptin

Intensive care medicine

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Dapagliflozin

Type 2 diabetes

Pioglitazone

Alogliptin

Exenatide

Virology

Endocrinology

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Outbreak

Tocilizumab

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Empagliflozin

Vildagliptin

Sitagliptin

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Internal medicine

Pharmacology

Liraglutide

Medicine

Saxagliptin

Pandemic

Disease

Metformin

Diabetes mellitus

Journal of Diabetes and its Complications

Inflammation is implicated in the development and severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as in the pathophysiology of diabetes. Diabetes, especially when uncontrolled, is also recognized as an important risk factor for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, certain inflammatory markers [i.e. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and ferritin] were reported as strong predictors of worse outcomes in COVID-19 positive patients. The same biomarkers have been associated with poor glycemic control. Therefore, achieving euglycemia in patients with diabetes is even more important in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the above, it is clinically interesting to elucidate whether antidiabetic drugs may reduce inflammation, thus possibly minimizing the risk for COVID-19 development and severity. The present narrative review discusses the potential anti-inflammatory properties of certain antidiabetic drugs (i.e. metformin, pioglitazone, sitagliptin, linagliptin, vildagliptin, alogliptin, saxagliptin, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide, semaglutide, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, canagliflozin), with a focus on CRP, IL-6 and ferritin.

Anti-inflammatory properties of antidiabetic drugs: A “promised land” in the COVID-19 era?