Effect of Liraglutide on Cardiovascular Endpoints in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients

The most important cause of mortality amongst DM2 patients is cardiovascular disease. An early finding of cardiovascular disease in DM2 and obesity is diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality and has been shown to improve in patients on a low calorie diet. The improvement of diastolic function was associated with a reduction in triglyceride accumulation in the heart and liver. A relatively new widely prescribed therapeutic agent for DM2 patients is Liraglutide (Victoza®). Liraglutide is a Glucagon Like Peptide - 1 homologue that improves glucose homeostasis and reduces blood pressure and body weight. Next to the induction of weight loss, which is potentially beneficial for cardiac function, GLP-1 therapy might have a direct advantageous effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the effect of Liraglutide on cardiovascular function has not been investigated yet. The investigators hypothesize that treatment of DM2 patients with Liraglutide is associated with improvement of cardiovascular function and a reduction of triglyceride accumulation in end-organs.