Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 that increase glucagon-like peptide-1 plasma concentrations are current treatment options for patients with diabetes mellitus. As patients with diabetes are a high-risk population for the development of a severe and diffuse atherosclerosis, we aim to review the potential action of these drugs on cardiovascular disease and to summarize the potential role of present glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies from a cardiologist's point of view.
Methods: Using a PubMed/MEDLINE search without language restriction, studies were identified and evaluated in order to review the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapy on different stages of the cardiovascular continuum.
Results: Recent experimental as well as clinical data suggest that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists--in addition to their metabolic effects--may have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular continuum at multiple stages, including: (1) cardiovascular risk factors; (2) molecular mechanisms involved in atherogenesis; (3) ischaemic heart disease; and (4) heart failure. Furthermore, retrospective analysis suggested decreased cardiovascular events in patients with glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies.
Conclusion: There are ample data to suggest beneficial effects of glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies on the cardiovascular continuum and large-scale clinical trials are warranted to determine whether these effects translate into improved cardiovascular endpoints in humans.
© 2012 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2012 Diabetes UK.