Liraglutide may prevent peripheral artery disease progression in type 2 diabetes

In the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD), a 6-month course of liraglutide results in increased peripheral perfusion, according to the results of an open-label study.

A total of 55 patients (mean age 67.5 years, 78 percent male) were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous liraglutide at 1.8 mg (n=27) or undergo conventional treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (control, n=28) for 6 months. Coprimary outcomes were the change from baseline in peripheral perfusion and the proportion of patients who achieved a 10-percent increase in transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPo₂) at 6 months.

The mean duration of diabetes was 15.8 years. The baseline HbA_1c level was a median of 6.9 percent, while that of TcPo₂ was a mean of 40.3 mm Hg. Of the patients, 21 received a diagnosis of PAD via Doppler ultrasonography, 15 through computed tomography angiography, and 19 after an angiographic procedure.

Over 6 months, TcPo₂ increased in both groups, although the change was significantly greater with liraglutide (estimated treatment difference, 11.2 mm Hg, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 8.0–14.5; p<0.001). Likewise, significantly more patients in the liraglutide group than in the control group had a 10-percent increase in TcPo₂ (89 percent vs 46 percent; relative risk, 1.91, 95 percent CI, 1.26–2.90; p<0.001).

The liraglutide group had a significantly greater improvement in C-reactive protein (−0.4 mg/dL, 95 percent CI, −0.7 to −0.07; p=0.02), urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (−119.4 mg/g, 95 percent CI, −195.0 to −43.8; p=0.003), and 6-minute walking distance (25.1 m, 95 percent CI, 21.8–28.3; p<0.001).

The findings highlight the potential of liraglutide in preventing the clinical progression of PAD in patients with type 2 diabetes.