Effects of Liraglutide on Metabolic Parameters and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with The Metabolic Syndrome: A 12-Month Prospective Pilot Study
- Autori: Rizzo, M; Ferlita, A; Nikolic, D; Patti, AM; Di Bartolo, V; Castellino, G; Pecoraro, G; Cuadra, S; Montalto, G; Rizvi, AA.
- Anno di pubblicazione: 2014
- Tipologia: Altro
- Parole Chiave: Liraglutide, the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/97486
Abstract
Recent research indicates that therapy with the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) seems to have beneficial actions on blood pressure, lipids, and the atherosclerotic process, which may be independent of its effect on glucose metabolism. However, the effects of liraglutide in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are largely unknown. Forty-nine subjects with the MetS (24 men and 25 women, age 65±10 yrs) diagnosed by the AHA/NHLBI criteria were included in a 12-month prospective study. All subjects had T2DM, were naïve to incretin-based therapies, and treated with metformin only. Liraglutide was added at a dose of 0.6 mg subcutaneously daily for two weeks, followed by 1.2 mg daily for the rest of the study. Fasting plasma samples were taken at baseline and after 12 months for laboratory analyses. Carotid-intima media thickness (IMT) was assessed by B-mode real-time ultrasound. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. In comparison to baseline, liraglutide therapy led to a significant reduction in plasma fasting glucose (7.1±1.9 vs 9.6±4.6 mmol/l, p<0.0001) and HbA1c (6.5±0.9 vs 8.7±1.7 %, p<0.0001), as well as in plasma total-cholesterol (3.9±0.8 vs 4.6±1.2 mmol/l, p=0.0062) and triglycerides (1.4±0.6 vs 2.1±1.8 mmol/l, p=0.0387), while low- and high- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not change significantly. There was no significant change in weight, waist circumference, and body mass index. By contrast, carotid IMT decreased after 12 months of liraglutide therapy (from 1.00±0.29 to 0.80±0.16 mm, p=0.0004). In patients with the MetS and T2DM, a 12-month treatment with liraglutide significantly improved glucose levels and components of the lipid profile, and reduced carotid IMT. Whether these encouraging metabolic and vascular changes will translate into better clinical and cardiovascular outcomes remains to be seen.