Bilateral gangrene of fingers in a patient on empagliflozin: First case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors use has been associated with toe amputations and non-healing ulcers and gangrene mostly of lower extremities. There are no case reports about association of Empagliflozin with finger ulcers or gangrene. This is the first case report of Empagliflozin (Jardiance) an SGLT2 inhibitor causing gangrene of fingers and second case in literature about any SGLT2 inhibitor causing gangrene of upper extremity.

CASE SUMMARY

A 76-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus sustained minimal trauma to both middle fingers, which started healing. He was started on empagliflozin a week later for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and started developing gangrene to both middle finger tips along with neuropathic pain which worsened over the course of next four months. Investigations were negative for vascular insufficiency, infection and vasculitis and imaging of hand was normal. Discontinuation of empagliflozin slowed progression of gangrene and caused symptomatic improvement with reduction in neuropathic pain.

CONCLUSION

This case report suggests possible association of empagliflozin and finger gangrene and recommends that more research and awareness among clinicians is needed in this area.

Key Words: Empagliflozin; Finger gangrene; Non-healing ulcer; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor; Jardiance; Case report

Core tip: Empagliflozin can cause finger gangrene in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Empaglifozin has gained popularity recently as a newer anti diabetic agent with improved cardiovascular outcomes and better glycemic control in addition to lowering blood pressure and helping with weight loss. Lack of proper awareness about this condition can lead to progression of disease if not identified early on and can result in amputations. This medication should be used with caution in patients who have high risk of gangrene such as that on prednisone and in those with diabetic neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION

This is the first ever case reported in literature about empaglifozin (Jardiance) as a possible cause of finger gangrene. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SLGT2) inhibitors inhibit sodium and glucose cotransport at proximal renal tubules. SLGT2 inhibitors have been associated with an increased risk of genital infections secondary to increased glycosuria. According to the results of CANVAS trial, Dapagliflozin, another SGLT2 inhibitor of the same class as empagliflozin, has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by 14% but it doubled the risk of amputation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus[1]. In a similar study conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at high risk for cardiovascular events, patients were given empaglifozin vs placebo and those on empagliflozin had lesser adverse cardiovascular events and lower all-cause mortality. Among patients receiving empagliflozin, there was an increased rate of genital infections but there was no increase in lower limb amputations[2]. In another study of over eight million case safety reports, increased risk of lower-limb amputations especially toe amputations were reported with empagliflozin[3].

A data analysis conducted based on data from US Food and Drug Administration adverse event Reporting System showed a total of 66 cases of SGLT2 inhibitor-associated amputations[3]. Among these, there was only one case of hand amputation which was from Dapagliflozin. All others were lower extremity gangrene and ulcers, most commonly of toes[4]. There are two case reports of empagliflozin related Fournier’s gangrene in literature[5,6] which pointed the benefit of keeping a high index of suspicion and early cessation of SGLT2 inhibitors could potentially prevent the progression of these infections requiring surgical debridement later. Empagliflozin has also been associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis along with other SGLT2 inhibitors[7].

SGLT2 inhibitors are used in general, cautiously in patients with vascular insufficiency, neuropathy, risk of amputations and very high hemoglobin A1C over 11. However, there are no case reports to date about an empagliflozin as a possible cause of non-healing finger ulcers or gangrene. Ours is the first reported case of empagliflozin (a SGLT2 inhibitor) as likely cause of gangrene of fingers.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaint

Gangrene both middle fingers.

History of present illness

A 76-year-old man with moderately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (hba1c of 8.6) sustained minor injury to the tip of both middle fingers while doing some mechanical work. He had no burns or exposure to heat. Initially, the fingers were healing well with minimal scarring. A week after the injury, he was started on empagliflozin 10 mg for better glycemic control in addition to his other medications. Three weeks after the injury (two weeks after being started on empagliflozin), he started noticing significant pain on tip of both middle fingers which also started changing color to brown and then to black (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Gangrene tip of fingers while on empaglifozin.

History of past illness

No history of previous vasculitis. He has history of polymyalgia rheumatica and was on prednisone 3 mg daily for the past few years. His other medications included aspirin, atorvastatin, metformin and saxagliptin. No history of diabetic neuropathy.

Personal and family history

He is a nonsmoker with no alcohol use. No family history of diabetes, gangrene or significant illnesses.

Physical examination upon admission

He was seen and evaluated in the emergency room twice in the following four months due to worsening symptoms and investigations were done. On exam during both times, he was afebrile, and physical exam was normal except for gangrenous changes tips of both middle fingers. There was no area of erythema around the region of gangrene on either side. Ankle brachial pressure index was normal and filling pressures were normal in both upper extremities.

Laboratory examinations

Blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein were within normal limits. Tests for vasculitis were negative including Anti-nuclear cytoplasmic antibody and anti-nuclear antibody.

Imaging examinations

Hand X-rays were normal. Echocardiogram showed no evidence of embolic sources.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Possible etiology was concluded to be from microvascular damage of unclear etiology.

TREATMENT

Plastic surgery, vascular surgery, dermatology and rheumatology referrals were completed. Biopsy was withheld as there was no surrounding erythema. Patient was seen in endocrinology outpatient for diabetes management and his endocrinologist suspected empagliflozin as a possible cause and discontinued the medication. He was switched to alternate medications for better glycemic control.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW UP

After a week of stopping empagliflozin, patient started noticing improvement in his pain as well as slowing of blackish discoloration near tip of fingers.

DISCUSSION

Occurrence of finger gangrene or upper extremity gangrene in individuals with type 2 diabetes on treatment with empaglifozin has not been described previously in the literature. We suggest this adverse event could be under reported due to low index of suspicion.

Patient mentioned in this case presented with gangrene at the same site where he sustained minimal trauma initially, therefore the suspicion was more for vasculitis. But the patient had noticed that the sites were healing well initially. Starting of empagliflozin coincided with onset of symptoms of neuropathic pain and worsening of non-healing ulcers and development of gangrene tip of fingers and vasculitis markers were negative.

Even though this patient has polymyalgia rheumatica and was on prednisone at the time of symptoms, markers for vasculitis were negative and he was on consistent dose of low dose prednisone for few years before onset of symptoms. Addition of empagliflozin again was the only other contributing factor for development of symptoms.

The timing of empaglifozin and onset of symptoms as well as improvement after stopping empaglifozin point towards a likely association of the medication with finger gangrene.

CONCLUSION

This first case report of empaglifozin causing finger gangrene suggests the possibility that upper extremity gangrene with use of empaglifozin could go undiagnosed as occurred initially in this case. Prescribers need to be aware of this association and future studies are warranted to clarify if upper extremity ulcers or gangrene are associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use.

Increased awareness among primary care physicians and surgeons about this association could prevent progression of non-healing upper extremity ulcers, gangrene and resultant amputations.