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GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment in Morbid Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Due to Pathogenic Homozygous Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutation: A Case Report.

Cell Rep Med · 2020

Last updated 2026-05-28

A woman with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes caused by a rare genetic mutation saw a 9.7 kg weight loss after 16 weeks of taking 3 mg/day of the GLP-1 drug liraglutide. Her blood sugar, triglycerides, and blood pressure also improved, and her glucose tolerance returned to normal. The study suggests liraglutide may work similarly for people with this mutation, whether they have one or two copies of the affected gene.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalCell Rep Med, 2020
Citations28
Relative citation ratio1.39
NIH percentile62
Molecules
Conditions studied Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity

Abstract

Individuals with obesity due to pathogenic heterozygous () mutations can be treated efficiently with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) liraglutide. Here, we report the effect of 16 weeks of liraglutide 3 mg/day treatment in a woman with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to homozygous pathogenic mutation. The body weight loss was 9.7 kg, similar to weight loss in heterozygous mutation carriers and common obesity. In addition, the treatment led to clinically relevant decreases in fasting glucose, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and normalization of glucose tolerance. We conclude that liraglutide reduces body weight and blood glucose levels in hetero- and homozygous mutation carriers. This serves as proof-of-concept that MC4Rs are not required for the body weight and glucose lowering effects of GLP-1 RAs and that liraglutide may be used as part of the treatment of obesity and T2D due to mutations.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 33205056 ↗