Liraglutide's anti-atherogenic mechanisms in Type 2 Diabetes to be investigated via FDG-PET/CT

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder often accompanied by vascular inflammation, a key driver of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Current treatments primarily focus on glycemic control, but often fall short in directly addressing the underlying vascular pathology. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has demonstrated cardiovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory or anti-atherogenic mechanisms that warrant further investigation. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for T2D patients by targeting the root causes of vascular damage.

This will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial. 100 patients with Type 2 Diabetes will be randomized 1:1 to receive either liraglutide or placebo for 26 weeks. The primary endpoint is the change from baseline to week 26 in vascular inflammation, quantified using Flour Deoxy Glucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT). This design aims to isolate liraglutide's specific impact on vascular inflammatory markers and elucidate its anti-atherogenic mechanisms.