OP0172 EFFECT OF WEIGHT LOSS AND LIRAGLUTIDE ON SERUM URATE LEVELS AMONG OBESE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS: SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: K. Zobbe, S. M. Nielsen, R. Christensen, A. Overgaard, H. Gudbergsen, M. Henriksen, H. Bliddal, L. Dreyer, L. Stamp, F. Krag Knop, L. E. Kristensen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: There is a strong association between gout and obesity. Lowering urate is the cornerstone of gout management [1] and urate levels correlate strongly with central obesity. Previous studies suggest that weight loss has a positive effect on serum urate, however, the studies are sparse and small [2]. Objectives: To assess the impact of an initial low-calorie diet-induced weight loss and subsequent randomisation to the body weight-lowering drug liraglutide (a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist) or placebo on serum urate levels. Methods: In the LOSE-IT trial ( NCT02905864 ), a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group, single-centre trial [3], 156 obese individuals with knee osteoarthritis, but without gout, were offered an initial 8-week intensive diet intervention (week -8 to 0) on Cambridge Weight Plan (800-1000 kcal/day) followed by a weight loss maintenance period in which participants were randomised to either liraglutide 3 mg/day or placebo for 52 weeks. We conducted a secondary analysis of blood samples collected at week -8, 0 and 52. The primary outcome measure was change in serum urate. We used paired t-test for the change from week -8 to 0, and for change from week 0 to 52 we used an ANCOVA model adjusted for stratification factors (sex, age category and obesity class), and the level of the outcome at baseline. Data were analysed as observed (i.e. no imputation of missing data). Results: 156 individuals were randomised and 155 had blood samples taken at baseline. In the initial intensive diet intervention period (week -8 to 0) they lost a mean of 12.5 kg (95% CI -13.1 to -11.9, n 156). In the following 52 weeks, the liraglutide group lost an additional 4.1 kg (SE 1.2, n 71) whereas the control group was almost unchanged with a weight loss of 0.2 kg (SE 1.2, n 66). Looking at the main outcome of serum urate levels change, the initial intensive diet resulted in a mean decrease of 0.21 mg/dL (95% CI 0.35 to 0.07, n 155) for the entire cohort. In the following year (week 0 to 52) the liraglutide group exhibited a further mean decrease in serum urate of 0.48 mg/dL (SE 0.11, n 69), whereas the placebo group exhibited a slight decrease in mean serum urate of 0.07 mg/dL (SE 0.12, n 65) resulting in a significant between-group difference of -0.40 mg/dL (95% CI -0.69 to -0.12, n 134) – see Figure 1. Four participants in each group experienced serious adverse events; no deaths were observed. Conclusion: This secondary analysis of the LOSE-IT trial suggests that liraglutide provides a potential novel serum urate lowering drug mechanism in obese patient populations, with potential implication for gout treatment. References: [1]Richette P et al. 2016. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:29–42. [2]Nielsen SM et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017 76(11):1870-1882. [3]Gudbergsen H et al. BMJ 2019. 71–2. Disclosure of Interests: Kristian Zobbe: None declared, Sabrina Mai Nielsen: None declared, Robin Christensen: None declared, Anders Overgaard: None declared, henrik gudbergsen Speakers bureau: Pfizer 2016, Marius Henriksen: None declared, Henning Bliddal Grant/research support from: received research grant fra NOVO Nordic, Consultant of: consultant fee fra NOVO Nordic, Lene Dreyer: None declared, Lisa Stamp: None declared, Filip Krag Knop Shareholder of: Minority shareholder in Antag Therapeutics Aps, Grant/research support from: AstraZeneca, Gubra, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma, Consultant of: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, MSD/Merck, Mundipharma, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma., Speakers bureau: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, MedImmune, MSD/Merck, Mundipharma, Norgine, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma., Lars Erik Kristensen Consultant of: UCB Pharma (Advisory Board), Sannofi (Advisory Board), Abbvie (Advisory Board), Biogen (Advisory Board), Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Forward Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma