Effects of Dapagliflozin on Central Hemodynamics and Urine Albumin Excretion in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Study design Screening visit: Potentially eligible patients will be asked to provide written informed consent. The investigators will record full medical history, clinical examination, demographic characteristics, electrocardiogram (ECG), body weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist perimeter. Office blood pressure (BP) will be measured by the physicians three times using a mercury sphygmomanometer \[cuffs will be placed at the level of brachial artery and a three minute interval will intercept each measurement, following 10 minutes of rest in the seated position (the cuff will cover at least 80% of the brachial circumference and 2/3 of the brachial length.)\]. The investigators will also collect blood samples to determine glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and liver function. Visit 1 (V1): Patients, who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria, will be asked to visit the sites 1 week after the screening visit (+/-2 days), following a 12-hour fast. Three measurements of office BP at the level of brachial artery, with a three minutes interval between each measurement, will be performed with the use of a mercury sphygmomanometer, after 10 minutes-rest in the sitting posture (cuff with bladder size encircling at least 80% of arm circumference and covering two thirds of arm length). After that, venous blood specimens and a spot urine specimen will be collected for relevant blood tests and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) respectively. Subsequently, the Mobil-O-Graph monitor with a cuff of appropriate size will be fitted and the BP recording will be initiated for 24 hours. The device will be programmed to collect data every 20 minutes, except for 23:00 to 07:00 (data collection every 30 minutes). Visit 2 (V2): An appointment will be scheduled the following day for the patient to drop-off the Mobil-O-Graph device. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the dapagliflozin or placebo group and will start receiving the drug regimen the same day. Moreover, all patients will receive dietary and lifestyle advice commencing from this visit. Telephone Visit 1 (ΤV1): A telephone visit (TV1) will be scheduled 6 weeks after V2 (+/-2 days). Patient history will be obtained, emphasizing on possible adverse events during the previous 6 weeks. Home blood glucose levels, if available, would be also discussed. Visit 3 (V3): Visit 3 will be scheduled 6 weeks after telephone visit 1 (TV1) (+/-2 days). The following parameters will be determined: medical history of the last weeks, clinical examination (including three brachial BP measurements with a mercury sphygmomanometer as mentioned before), venous blood specimen collection (under 12-hour fast) and the initiation of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) (Mobil-O-Graph device). The patients will also provide a spot urine specimen for ACR evaluation. Visit 4 (V4): Visit 4 will be scheduled 1 day after visit 3. Patients will drop-off the Mobil-O-Graph device.