The kidney is undoubtedly a major target for microvascular damage in diabetes, and approximately half of patients with type 2 diabetes develop chronic kidney disease. The presence of chronic kidney disease increases the risk of death, cardiovascular events, and progression to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or transplantation. For diabetic patients, these complications obviously have a major impact, both on their outcomes and quality of life.
Reimbursed in Belgium since February 1, 2023, finerenone (Kerendia®, Bayer) is a novel non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has recently been shown to be effective in preventing cardiovascular events and the progression of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients.
This review summarizes the current state of knowledge and provides clinicians with the necessary tools to prescribe finerenone to patients at high cardiovascular and renal risk, who require holistic and multidisciplinary management.
Key Words
Chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, heart failure, pharmacology, finerenone, kidney