LAUSR

BACKGROUND Several drugs have been currently approved for the treatment of obesity. The pharmacokinetic of liraglutide, as well as for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, have been widely described. OBJECTIVE To analyze the published systematic reviews on the use of liraglutide for the treatment of obesity. METHODS Systematic reviews were found out through MEDLINE searches, through EBSCO host and the Cochrane Library based on the following terms: "liraglutide" as Major term and using the following Medical Subject Headings (MesH) terms: "obesity", "overweight", "weight loss". A total of 3 systematic review were finally included to be analyzed. RESULTS From the three systematic reviews selected, only two included randomized clinical trials, while the third study reviewed both randomized and non-randomized clinical trials. Only one review performed statistical tests of heterogeneity and a meta-analysis combining results of individual studies. Another review showed results of individual studies with odds ratio and confidence interval, but a second one just showed means and confidence intervals. In all studies, weight loss was registered in persons treated with liraglutide in a dose dependent form, reaching a plateau at 3.0 mg dose, which was reached just in men. Most usual adverse events were gastrointestinal. CONCLUSION More powerful and prospective studies are needed to assess all aspects related to liraglutide in the overweight and obesity treatment.