Three years of liraglutide treatment offers continuously optimal glycemic control in a pediatric patient with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3

Sulfonylureas (SUs) are recommended as the first-line pharmacological treatment in patients with uncontrolled maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY3). In contrast, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have the advantages of a low risk of hypoglycemia and maintained β-cell function. We report a pediatric patient with MODY3 treated with a GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide. A 12-year-old Japanese girl with MODY3 had been treated with insulin for 6 months since the time of diagnosis. After genetic analysis, we switched her treatment from insulin to liraglutide. After switching to liraglutide, the patient maintained optimal glycemic control with hemoglobin A₁c levels of 6.8%-7.5% and had postprandial C-peptide levels >3.0 ng/mL during a 3-year treatment period. No adverse events associated with liraglutide were observed. GLP-1 receptor agonists are the potential medications for patients with MODY3 who maintain residual insulin secretion.