LAUSR

We assessed the effects of liraglutide treatment on five cardiovascular risk biomarkers, reflecting different pathophysiology: tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α; soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR); mid‐regional pro‐adrenomedullin (MR‐proADM); mid‐regional pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (MR‐proANP); and copeptin, in people with type 2 diabetes with albuminuria. In a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial we enrolled people with type 2 diabetes and persistent albuminuria (urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio [UACR] >30 mg/g) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Participants received liraglutide (1.8 mg/d) and matched placebo for 12 weeks, in random order. The primary endpoint was change in albuminuria; this was a prespecified sub‐study. A total of 32 participants were randomized, of whom 27 completed the study. TNF‐α level was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3; 20) lower after liraglutide treatment compared with placebo (P = .012); MR‐proADM level was 4% (95% CI 0; 8) lower after liraglutide treatment compared with placebo (P = .038), and MR‐proANP level was 13% (95% CI 4; 21) lower after liraglutide treatment compared with placebo (P = .006). In the present study, we showed anti‐inflammatory effects of liraglutide treatment, reflected in reductions in levels of TNF‐α and MR‐proADM, while the reduction in MR‐proANP levels may represent a clinically relevant benefit with regard to heart failure.