Reduced pain-related events and use of analgesics with atrasentan in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD

A recent study found that endothelin receptor antagonist atrasentan reduced pain-related events and use of analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids in selected patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study’s findings were published in the journal Kidney international.

SONAR trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included participants with type 2 diabetes and CKD. They were randomized to receive either atrasentan or placebo (n=1834 in each arm). The main outcome of the study was pain-related adverse events (AEs). Cox regression was used to analyze the effect of atrasentan on the risk of the first pain-related AE and the first prescription of analgesics in comparison with the placebo. Also, the Anderson-Gill method was used to assess effects on all pain-related AEs.

It was found that during the 2.2-year median follow-up, there were 1183 pain-related AEs. The first pain-related event rates in the atrasentan and placebo groups were 138.2 and 170.2 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Also, with atrasentan all pain-related AEs were reduced. Additionally, patients treated with atrasentan initiated fewer analgesics compared to the placebo.

From the above results, it can be concluded that atrasentan may be associated with reduced pain-related events and use of analgesics in carefully selected patients having type 2 diabetes and CKD.