Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are not only used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but also have been shown to be effective in reducing major cardiovascular events and slowing chronic kidney disease progression. However, they cause glycosuria, which increases the risk f...

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Main Authors: Diego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez, Maria Cristina Cuartas-Mesa, Noelle Krueger, Hadeel Alfar, Rashidat Ashimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American College of Physicians 2025-08-01
Series:Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
Online Access:https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2025.0241
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author Diego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez
Maria Cristina Cuartas-Mesa
Noelle Krueger
Hadeel Alfar
Rashidat Ashimi
author_facet Diego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez
Maria Cristina Cuartas-Mesa
Noelle Krueger
Hadeel Alfar
Rashidat Ashimi
author_sort Diego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez
collection DOAJ
description Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are not only used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but also have been shown to be effective in reducing major cardiovascular events and slowing chronic kidney disease progression. However, they cause glycosuria, which increases the risk for genitourinary (GU) infections. We report a patient with uncontrolled T2DM who developed epididymo-orchitis 6 weeks after starting empagliflozin, which progressed to testicular infarction. Although not well documented, SGLT2 inhibitors may increase the risk for epididymo-orchitis because infections may ascend from the urinary tract. This case highlights the importance of close observation to avoid serious events associated with SGLT2 inhibitors.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2767-7664
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher American College of Physicians
record_format Article
series Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
spelling doaj-art-6ddfa930ff984f799c18e7855a3df3182025-08-20T03:59:22ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642025-08-014810.7326/aimcc.2025.0241Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 InhibitorsDiego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez0Maria Cristina Cuartas-Mesa1Noelle Krueger2Hadeel Alfar3Rashidat Ashimi41John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, Illinois1John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, Illinois1John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, Illinois1John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, Illinois1John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Internal Medicine, Chicago, IllinoisSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are not only used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but also have been shown to be effective in reducing major cardiovascular events and slowing chronic kidney disease progression. However, they cause glycosuria, which increases the risk for genitourinary (GU) infections. We report a patient with uncontrolled T2DM who developed epididymo-orchitis 6 weeks after starting empagliflozin, which progressed to testicular infarction. Although not well documented, SGLT2 inhibitors may increase the risk for epididymo-orchitis because infections may ascend from the urinary tract. This case highlights the importance of close observation to avoid serious events associated with SGLT2 inhibitors.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2025.0241
spellingShingle Diego Mateo Cornejo Gonzalez
Maria Cristina Cuartas-Mesa
Noelle Krueger
Hadeel Alfar
Rashidat Ashimi
Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
title Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
title_full Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
title_fullStr Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
title_full_unstemmed Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
title_short Epididymo-Orchitis Leading to Testicular Infarction: Revealing a Potentially Severe Complication of SGLT2 Inhibitors
title_sort epididymo orchitis leading to testicular infarction revealing a potentially severe complication of sglt2 inhibitors
url https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2025.0241
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