January 28, 2026

SGLT2 inhibitors may be safe for people with ADPKD

A small study involving people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) suggests it may be safe for them to take a type of medication called sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). These medications have already been shown to benefit people living with other forms of kidney disease. 

SGLT2 inhibitors are known to slow the progression of kidney disease in a wide range of people, with or without diabetes. However, people living with ADPKD—a unique form of kidney disease marked by the growth of cysts in the kidneys—have largely been excluded from past SGLT2 inhibitor studies. This is because, in theory, the drugs could worsen cyst growth through hormone-related effects.  

In British Columbia, researcher Alessandro Cau and colleagues reviewed health records for 17 people with ADPKD who were prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Participants were followed for a median of 21 months.  

Overall, few patients experienced side effects linked to the medication. One person developed acute kidney injury, and two developed urinary tract infections; none required an emergency department visit or hospitalization. In people without ADPKD, SGLT2 inhibitors can cause a short-term drop in kidney function before levels stabilize. This pattern was also seen in some participants in this study.  

While the study was small and did not include a control group, the authors note that these early findings did not identify any clear kidney-related safety concerns for people with ADPKD. They conclude that larger studies are needed to better understand whether SGLT2 inhibitors are both safe and effective for this population.