GLP-1 receptor agonists and coronary plaques regression in diabetic patients after acute coronary syndromes

Despite advances in therapeutic strategies a significant proportion of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients experience early coronary artery disease (CAD) progression, particularly those with diabetes.

To evaluate CAD progression in diabetic patients treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ra) over 1 year after an ACS.

Patients presenting with non-ST-elevation ACS between 2019 and 2022 were enrolled in a prospective registry and underwent serial coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at baseline (after revascularization, during the index hospitalization) and at 1-year follow-up. The primary endpoint was the absolute change (1 year - baseline) in non-culprit lesion plaque burden (ΔPB) on CCTA, with the absolute change in patient percent atheroma volume (ΔPAV) as a key secondary endpoint. A comprehensive lipidomic, metabolomic, and proteomic plasma assessment was also performed in all GLP-1Ra-treated patients and four randomly selected controls.

Of 28 diabetic patients, 7 (25%) with 22 coronary plaques were treated with GLP-1Ra, and 21 (75%) with 65 plaques received other antidiabetic agents. In the 1-year observation frame, both ΔPB (-5.8 ± 12.8% vs. -1.1 ± 13.6%, p = 0.041) and ΔPAV (-6.1% [-7.3, -1.8] vs. -0.7% [-2.4, 9.8], p = 0.039) were significantly lower in GLP-1Ra-treated patients. Total atheroma volume also showed a numerically greater reduction in the GLP-1Ra cohort (0.7 mm³ [-2.5-8.7] vs. 25.0 mm³ [4.8-39.7]), primarily due to a decrease in plaque fibrofatty volume percentage (-2.9 ± 10.1% vs. 1.0 ± 6.8%, p = 0.042). Lipidomic, metabolomic, and proteomic analyses identified reductions in monoacylglycerols and triacylglycerols, increases in diacylglycerols and phosphatidylethanolamine, a shift from carbohydrate metabolism toward lipid metabolism and hormone regulation, and differential expression of proteins involved in complement activation, endothelial function, and cytoskeletal organization in GLP-1Ra-treated patients compared with controls.

In diabetic patients with ACS, GLP-1Ra therapy was associated with a significant regression in coronary plaque burden at 1 year, supported by favorable lipidomic, metabolomic, and proteomic changes. These findings suggest a potential role for GLP-1Ra in modifying atherosclerosis progression beyond glycemic control.