Liraglutide decreases carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes: 8-month prospective pilot study

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.