FRI063 Effectiveness Of Liraglutide In Treating Obesity And Improving Hepatic Steatosis
Authors: Alfadda Assim Abdulaziz , Masood Afshan , Alsuwayni Bashayr M , Alhossan Abdulaziz M 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: A.A. Alfadda: None. A. Masood: None. B.M. Alsuwayni: None. A.M. Alhossan: None.

Background: Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease with a multifactorial pathology. Chronic inflammation is an important underlying cause, that is also a reason for development of obesity associated comorbidities including metabolic associated fatty liver disease. Medical management of obesity using glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists has been effective in achieving weight loss and improvements in glucose and lipid control but effects on liver steatosis occurring with persistence of treatment need to be further elucidated. Methods: A single center, prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of liraglutide in patients with obesity. Participants received daily subcutaneous liraglutide with dose escalation (initial dose of 0.6 mg to maximum of 3.0 mg) following the prescribed guidelines. Anthropometric and laboratory parameters were measured at baseline and after three months of receiving the full dose. Estimation of liver steatosis was performed by FibroScan, using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) at baseline and at three months of therapy. Descriptive statistics were reported as percentage or mean ± standard deviation (SD) and P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A sub-group analysis was carried out between patients classified as responders to treatment if they lost ≥ 5% of their initial weight, and non-responders, if they did not. Results: In total 28 patients, 18 females (64%) and 10 males (46%) with obesity, mean age 36 ± 11.6 years and BMI (42 ± 4.8) kg/m2, were recruited for the study. Six patients dropped out because of side effects. Twenty-two patients 8 (36.4%) males and 14 (63.6%) females comprised the study population followed for three months. Significant and clinically meaningful changes in weight (decreased by 5.03%), BMI (decreased by 4.71%), HbA1c (decreased by 5.44%), and CAP (decreased by 14.69%) (all P values &lt; 0.05) were noted in all the patients after three months treatment. Sub-group analysis in responders, 16 patients (72.7%), and non-responders 6 patients (27.3%) at three months of treatment demonstrated decrease weight (from 119.64 ± 11.9 to 108.46 ± 11.6 kg; P &lt; 0.001), BMI (from 42.08 ± 5.7 to 38.31 ± 5.7 kg/ m2; P &lt; 0.001), HbA1c (from 5.80 ± 0.4 to 5.38 ± 0.3%; P &lt; 0.001), and CAP (from 286.69 ± 68.6 to 260.69 ± 53.6 dB/m; P = 0.067) in the responders group. On the other hand, we noted a significant decrease in CAP in non-responders’ group (from 285.17 ± 29 to 242.33 ± 51.2; P = 0.041) with no significant changes were observed in anthropometric measures and laboratory markers. Conclusions: Treatment with liraglutide for a period of 3 months in patients with obesity produced significant weight loss and improvement in hepatic steatosis in most patients. Even though the non-responders did not show improvements in weight loss, they demonstrated significant improvements in hepatic steatosis.

Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023