Ivan Tkáč
Insulin secretion deficit and insulin resistance are two basic pathogenetic mechanisms for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and present therapeutical modalities are based on their affecting. Derivates of sulfonylurea can stimulate insulin secretion independently from food intake. Food intake physiologically provokes secretion of inkretines in the small intestine that are able to stimulate secretion of insulin in β-cells of pancreas, the highest effect of which has glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Regarding the short half time of this protein that is degraded by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) two subgroups of drugs have been developed that can after administration increase the incretine effect. Analogues GLP-1 are not degraded DPP-4 and they are used subcutaneously. Inhibitors of DPP-4 (gliptines) can be administered orally. In addition to stimulate secretion of insulin, gliptines are able to inhibit secretion of glucagon. Regarding glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion they do not cause hypoglycaemia, weight gaining and only minimum of adverse effects of the therapy. The first inhibitor of DPP-4 registered in SR is sitagliptine (Januvia, MSD), recommended as additional therapy for patients with insufficiently compensated metformin. In registration and postregistration studies administration of sitagliptine in doses of 100 mg per day lead to mean decreasing of HbA1c about 0,74 % comparing with placebo. The most frequent side effects of the therapy were nasopharyngeal and urinary infections. Gliptines represent a new therapeutical approach in oral antidiabetic therapy with a good tolerance and high safety profile in studies lasting one year.