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Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue therapy for psoriasis patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study

  1. T. Ahern1,*,
  2. A.-M. Tobin2,
  3. M. Corrigan1,
  4. A. Hogan1,
  5. C. Sweeney2,
  6. B. Kirby2,
  7. D. O’Shea1

Article first published online: 13 JUN 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2012.04609.x

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Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

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How to Cite

Ahern, T., Tobin, A.-M., Corrigan, M., Hogan, A., Sweeney, C., Kirby, B. and O’Shea, D. (2012), Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue therapy for psoriasis patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2012.04609.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Obesity Research Group, and

  2. 2

    Dermatology Research Group, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland

* T. Ahern. E-mail:tomasbahern@physicians.ie

  1. Conflict of Interest There are no conflicts of interest to disclose.

  2. Funding sources This work was supported by the Health Research Board of Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation, Abbot Limited and the Irish Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board. Dr Tomás Ahern had full access to, and control of, all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 13 JUN 2012
  2. Received: 3 March 2012; Accepted: 16 May 2012

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Abstract

Background  Diabetes and obesity are more prevalent amongst psoriasis patients as is disturbance of the innate immune system. GLP-1 analogue therapy considerably improves weight and glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes and its receptor is present on innate immune cells.

Objective  We aimed to determine the effect of liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue, on psoriasis severity.

Methods  Before and after 10 weeks of liraglutide therapy (1.2 mg subcutaneously daily) we determined the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) in seven people with both psoriasis and diabetes (median age 48 years, median body mass index 48.2 kg/m2). We also evaluated the immunomodulatory properties of liraglutide by measuring circulating lymphocyte subset numbers and monocyte cytokine production.

Results  Liraglutide therapy decreased the median PASI from 4.8 to 3.0 (P = 0.03) and the median DLQI from 6.0 to 2.0 (P = 0.03). Weight and glycaemic control improved significantly. Circulating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells increased from 0.13% of T lymphocytes to 0.40% (P = 0.03). Liraglutide therapy also effected a non-significant 54% decrease in the proportion of circulating monocytes that produced tumour necrosis factor alpha (P = 0.07).

Conclusion  GLP-1 analogue therapy improves psoriasis severity, increases circulating iNKT cell number and modulates monocyte cytokine secretion. These effects may result from improvements in weight and glycaemic control as well as from direct immune effects of GLP-1 receptor activation. Prospective controlled trials of GLP-1 therapies are warranted, across all weight groups, in psoriasis patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

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