title: Add-On Treatment with Liraglutide Improves Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes on Metformin Therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor analog recently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of liraglutide versus glimepiride, as adjunct treatments to metformin, in achieving glycemic control in Italian patients with T2DM uncontrolled by metformin alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-nine diabetes patients treated with metformin plus liraglutide (1.8 mg) or glimepiride (4 mg) were retrospectively assessed at baseline, during, and after 18 months of continuous therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with liraglutide resulted in mean decreases in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of -1.4%, when compared with glimepiride (-0.4%) (P < 0.001), and was followed by a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in fasting plasma glucose. Variations in HbA1c occurred independently from weight loss, which was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in liraglutide-treated patients. The percentage of subjects reaching HbA1c levels below 7% or ≤ 6.5% was significantly different between the two treated groups (P < 0.001). Treatment with liraglutide reduced waist circumference (WC) (P < 0.001) and decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) (P < 0.001). It is interesting that the study also showed the impact of female gender in predicting a better glycemic response to liraglutide (P = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liraglutide was more effective than glimepiride in reducing HbA1c levels in treated patients with T2DM. This was evident in both genders, but particularly in women. Furthermore, liraglutide reduced body weight, WC, and BP, which are critical risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Eusebio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiefari
authors.affiliation: 2 Complex Operative Structure of Endocrinology-Diabetology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capula
authors.affiliation: 2 Complex Operative Structure of Endocrinology-Diabetology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vero
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliverio
authors.affiliation: 2 Complex Operative Structure of Endocrinology-Diabetology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puccio
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.affiliation: 2 Complex Operative Structure of Endocrinology-Diabetology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pullano
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Manfredi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.affiliation: 4 Diabetologic Unit, Soverato Hospital , Soverato, Italy .
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tirinato
authors.affiliation: 2 Complex Operative Structure of Endocrinology-Diabetology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vero
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro, Italy .
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008687:Metformin; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human; C057619:glimepiride