Treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists is associated with significant weight loss and favorable headache outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Background In idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), sustained weight loss is the main pillar in modifying disease course, whereby glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) could present an attractive treatment option. Methods In this open-label, single-center, case–control pilot st...
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Published in | Journal of headache and pain Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 89 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Milan
Springer Milan
18.07.2023
Springer Nature B.V BMC |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background
In idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), sustained weight loss is the main pillar in modifying disease course, whereby glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) could present an attractive treatment option.
Methods
In this open-label, single-center, case–control pilot study, patients with IIH (pwIIH) and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m
2
were offered to receive a GLP-1-RA (semaglutide, liraglutide) in addition to the usual care weight management (UCWM). Patients electing for UCWM only served as a control group matched for age-, sex- and BMI (1:2 ratio). The primary endpoint was the percentage weight loss at six months (M6) compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints included the rate of patients with a weight loss of ≥ 10%, monthly headache days (MHD), the rate of patients with a ≥ 30% and ≥ 50% reduction in MHD, visual outcome parameters, and adverse events (AEs).
Results
We included 39 pwIIH (mean age 33.6 years [SD 8.0], 92.3% female, median BMI 36.3 kg/m
2
[IQR 31.4–38.3]), with 13 patients being treated with GLP-1-RAs. At M6, mean weight loss was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (–12.0% [3.3] vs. –2.8% [4.7];
p
< 0.001). Accordingly, weight loss of ≥ 10% was more common in this group (69.2% vs. 4.0%;
p
< 0.001). Median reduction in MHD was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (–4 [–10.5, 0.5] vs. 0 [–3, 1];
p
= 0.02), and the 50% responder rate was 76.9% vs. 40.0% (
p
= 0.04). Visual outcome parameters did not change significantly from baseline to M6. Median reduction in acetazolamide dosage was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (–16.5% [–50, 0] vs. 0% [–25, 50];
p
= 0.04). AEs were mild or moderate and attributed to gastrointestinal symptoms in 9/13 patients. None of the AEs led to premature treatment discontinuation.
Conclusions
This open-label, single-center pilot study suggests that GLP-1-RAs are an effective and safe treatment option for achieving significant weight loss with a favorable effect on headache, leading to reduced acetazolamide dosage in pwIIH.
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1129-2377 1129-2369 1129-2377 |
DOI: | 10.1186/s10194-023-01631-z |