Effect of Exenatide on Aortic Stiffness and Blood Pressure Parameters

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of exenatide and insulin glargine on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and aortic stiffness parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients with type 2 diabetes who were receiving metformin treatment for at least two months but naive for insulin and incretin based treatments, with body mass index (BMI) = 25-45 kg/m2, were randomized into exenatide a glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP–1) analog and insulin glargine arms and were followed for 26 weeks. Aortic stiffness parameters were calculated using transthoracic echocardiography and hemodynamic data. Body weight and total body fat mass were measured by bioimpedance analysis. Results: There was no significant change in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both arms. When the effects on aortic stiffness parameters were evaluated there was no significant difference in the baseline and outcome values of both arms. Changes in body weight had a negative correlation with aortic stiffness β index (r=–0.322) and a positive correlation with aortic distensibility (r=0.386). Discussion: Throughout the study period, exenatide and insulin glargine had a neutral effect on blood pressure parameters. Exenatide did not cause any change in aortic stiffness parameters. A 26-week exenatide treatment leads to loss of body weight and fat mass along with glycemic regulation. Body weight and fat mass loss have a positive impact on aortic stiffness indicators.