Long-Term Effects of Metreleptin in Rabson-Mendenhall Syndrome on Glycemia, Growth, and Kidney Function

Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the insulin receptor gene (INSR) leading to insulin-resistant diabetes, microvascular complications, and growth hormone resistance with short stature. Small, uncontrolled studies suggest that 1-year treatment with recombinant leptin (metreleptin) improves glycemia in RMS.

This study aimed to determine effects of long-term metreleptin in RMS on glycemia, anthropometrics, the growth hormone axis, and kidney function.

We compared RMS patients during nonrandomized open-label treatment with metreleptin (≥ 0.15 mg/kg/day) vs no metreleptin over 90 months (5 subjects in both groups at different times, 4 only in metreleptin group, 2 only in control group). Main outcome measures were A1c; glucose; insulin; 24-hour urine glucose; standard deviation scores (SDS) for height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1); growth hormone; and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Over time, metreleptin-treated subjects maintained 1.8 percentage point lower A1c vs controls (P = 0.007), which remained significant after accounting for changes in insulin doses. Metreleptin-treated subjects had a reduction in BMI SDS, which predicted decreased A1c. Growth hormone increased after metreleptin treatment vs control, with no difference in SDS between groups for IGF-1 or height. Reduced BMI predicted higher growth hormone, while reduced A1c predicted higher IGF-1.

Metreleptin alters the natural history of rising A1c in RMS, leading to lower A1c throughout long-term follow-up. Improved glycemia with metreleptin is likely attributable to appetite suppression and lower BMI SDS. Lower BMI after metreleptin may also worsen growth hormone resistance in RMS, resulting in a null effect on IGF-1 and growth despite improved glycemia.