Meta-analysis of the efficacy of liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes accompanied by incipient nephropathy

The efficacy of liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes accompanied by early-stage nephropathy has remained to be fully elucidated. The present meta-analysis was performed to determine the clinical outcomes associated with liraglutide treatment. The PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases were searched in October 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials of liraglutide for diabetes patients with early-stage nephropathy. The treatment effect was estimated by calculating the mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity was assessed using χ(2) and I(2) tests. In addition, risk of bias graphs and summaries were used to assess the quality of the trials included. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included in the present meta-analysis. In subjects with stage I–II diabetic nephropathy (DN), liraglutide had obvious advantages in lowering the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR; MD=−90.96, 95% confidence interval (CI)=−94.12 to −87.80, P<0.00001], urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER; MD=−64.86, 95% CI=−66.63 to −63.08, P<0.00001), serum creatinine (Scr; MD=−13.67, 95% CI=−17.88 to −9.46, P<0.00001). In subjects with stage-III DN, liraglutide had favorable effects on renal function (UACR: MD=−11.23, 95% CI=−13.14 to −9.32, P<0.00001; UAER: MD=−14.06; 95% CI=−6.93 to −11.18; P<0.00001; Scr: MD=−9.17, 95% CI=−14.61 to −3.72, P=0.0010) and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects (transforming growth factor-β1: P<0.00001; tumor necrosis factor-α: P=0.006; interleukin-6: P<0.00001). Furthermore, liraglutide also reduced the blood lipid levels, body mass index and post-prandial blood glucose. The most common adverse effects of liraglutide were gastrointestinal tract reactions and hypoglycemia, but these symptoms resolved quickly. Liraglutide appears to be effective in reducing proteinuria, improving renal function, producing an anti-inflammatory effect and ameliorating glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic patients with early-stage nephropathy.