title: Comparison of liraglutide versus other incretin-related anti-hyperglycaemic agents.
abstract: The two classes of incretin-related therapies, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), have become important treatment options for patients with type 2 diabetes. Sitagliptin, saxagliptin, vildagliptin and linagliptin, the available DPP-4 inhibitors, are oral medications, whereas the GLP-1 RAs-twice-daily exenatide, once-weekly exenatide and once-daily liraglutide-are administered subcutaneously. By influencing levels of GLP-1 receptor stimulation, these medications lower plasma glucose levels in a glucose-dependent manner with low risk of hypoglycaemia, affecting postprandial plasma glucose more than most other anti-hyperglycaemic medications. Use of GLP-1 RAs has been shown to result in greater glycaemic improvements than DPP-4 inhibitors, probably because of higher levels of GLP-1 receptor activation. GLP-1 RAs can also produce significant weight loss and may reduce blood pressure and have beneficial effects on other cardiovascular risk factors. Although both classes are well tolerated, DPP-4 inhibitors may be associated with infections and headaches, whereas GLP-1 RAs are often associated with gastrointestinal disorders, primarily nausea. Pancreatitis has been reported with both DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 RAs, but a causal relationship between use of incretin-based therapies and pancreatitis has not been established. In clinical trials, liraglutide has shown efficacy and tolerability and resulted in certain significant benefits when compared with exenatide and sitagliptin.
authors.affiliation: Ochsner Diabetes Clinical Research Unit, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA. lawrence.blonde@gmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blonde
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montanya
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054795:Incretins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D054795:Incretins; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms; D000069450:Liraglutide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000077270:Exenatide