Durability of effects of exenatide treatment on glycemic control, body weight, systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and triglyceride concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (1) whether long-term treatment with exenatide is associated with reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), systolic blood pressure (BP), and triglyceride concentrations in addition to reductions in body weight and hemoglobin A(₁c) (A1C) levels and (2) whether these beneficial results persist without any loss of effect while exenatide is being used, and whether they reverse after its cessation.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of 141 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with exenatide at a tertiary clinic.


RESULTS
Exenatide (mean duration of treatment, 1.4 years) decreased A1C (0.7%), weight (5 kg), systolic BP (8 mm Hg), and triglyceride concentrations (46 mg/dL) (P<.05 for all). Sixty-one patients continued exenatide therapy throughout the study (mean duration of use, 2.4 years). Exenatide treatment reduced their mean weight by 7 kg, systolic BP by 8 mm Hg, triglycerides by 52 mg/dL, A1C by 1.3%, and CRP by 2.4 mg/L (P<.05 for all). Reductions in systolic BP and CRP were not related to weight loss. The reduction in CRP concentration was significantly related to the baseline CRP concentration (r = 0.78; P<.001) and to change in A1C (r = 0.68; P = .02). Patients who stopped taking exenatide had a reversal of the benefits within 6 months after cessation of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Exenatide treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes has durable and persistent beneficial effects on A1C, weight, CRP, systolic BP, and triglyceride concentrations. Cessation of treatment reverses all these beneficial effects within 6 months. There was no evidence of loss of its effects while exenatide treatment was continued.
Varanasi
Ajay
A
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, State University of New York at Buffalo and Kaleida Health, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Chaudhuri
Ajay
A
Dhindsa
Sandeep
S
Arora
Amita
A
Lohano
Teekam
T
Vora
Mehul R
MR
Dandona
Paresh
P
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014280:Triglycerides; D014688:Venoms; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000077270:Exenatide