title: Liraglutide decreases carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes: 8-month prospective pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liraglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, has several non- glycemic properties, but its effect on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a recognized marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, is still unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 8 months duration in 64 patients with type-2 diabetes and no prior history of coronary artery disease evaluated whether adding liraglutide to metformin affects carotid IMT, measured by color doppler ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 months, fasting glucose decreased by 2.1 mmol/l and HbA1c by 1.9% (p < 0.01 for all). Liraglutide reduced total-cholesterol and triglycerides by 10%, and LDL-cholesterol by 19%, whereas HDL-cholesterol increased by 18% (p < 0.01 for all lipid changes). Carotid IMT decreased from 1.19 ± 0.47 to 0.94 ± 0.21 mm (p < 0.01). Yet, changes in carotid IMT did not correlate with changes in any other variable studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liraglutide decreases carotid IMT after 8 months treatment independently of its effect on plasma glucose and lipids concentrations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01715428.
authors.forename: Manfredi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandalia
authors.forename: Angelo Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Bartolo
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 8,138 Medical Research Building, 301 University Boulevard, 77555-1060 Galveston, TX, USA. niabate@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abate
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1