Effect of empagliflozin on ketone bodies in patients with stable chronic heart failure

Robert Pietschner and colleagues at University Hospital Erlangen evaluated the effect of empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, on blood ketone body concentration in patients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF). The study found that treatment with empagliflozin led to an increase in fasting serum ß-OHB levels, as well as improvements in blood pressure and vascular stiffness. However, a greater increase in ß-OHB was associated with less improvement in central blood pressure and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, suggesting that the increase in ketone bodies may not have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.