Beneficial effects of liraglutide on peripheral blood vessels

Background/Aim. Macroangiopathy is the major cause of death and disability in type 2 diabetic patients. Studies have shown that liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, can protect the cardiovascular system by inhibiting chronic inflammation of diabetes. However, the effects of liraglutide on peripheral blood vessels and peripheral blood leukocytes have not reported at home and abroad. Objective: To observe and explore vascular protection and mechanism of liraglutide in addition to hypoglycemic effect. Methods: 60 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from December 2013 to December 2014 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University. Before the treatment of liraglutide，height and weight were measure to calculate body mass index (BMI). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and so on were detected. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and islet β cell function (HOMA-β) were computed. After applying liraglutide for three months, all indexes were measured again. The effects of liraglutide on these indexes were analyzed by paired sample t test. Results: After treatment with liraglutide, HbA1c (8.46±1.62 vs 7.26±1.40%) and 2hPBG (11.95 vs 9.6 mmol/L) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Body weight (87.3 vs 82.5 kg) and BMI (30.37 vs 28.63 kg/m2) decreased by 5.5% and 5.7% (P<0.05). TG（2.57±1.54 vs 1.81±0.70 mmol/L） and LDL-C（2.92±0.78 vs 1.89±0.66 mmol/L）reduced significantly (P<0.05). ABI decreased from 1.24±0.10 to 1.14±0.06 cm/s by 8%, while baPWV decreased from 1442.15±196.26 to 1316.85±146.63 cm/s by 8.7%, and both difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Liraglutide, with a good hypoglycemic effect, can significantly reduce postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c, but can not significantly improve fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance and islet function. It also significantly decreased body weight, BMI and TG. Liraglutide can significantly lower ba-PWV and ABI to protect peripheral blood vessels.