• Nik Krajnc, Bianca Itariu, Stefan Macher, Wolfgang Marik, Jürgen Harreiter, Martin Michl, Klaus Novak, Christian Wöber, Berthold Pemp, and Gabriel Bsteh.
• Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
• J Headache Pain. 2023 Jul 18; 24 (1): 8989.

BackgroundIn idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), sustained weight loss is the main pillar in modifying disease course, whereby glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) could present an attractive treatment option.MethodsIn this open-label, single-center, case-control pilot study, patients with IIH (pwIIH) and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2 were offered to receive a GLP-1-RA (semaglutide, liraglutide) in addition to the usual care weight management (UCWM). Patients electing for UCWM only served as a control group matched for age-, sex- and BMI (1:2 ratio). The primary endpoint was the percentage weight loss at six months (M6) compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints included the rate of patients with a weight loss of ≥ 10%, monthly headache days (MHD), the rate of patients with a ≥ 30% and ≥ 50% reduction in MHD, visual outcome parameters, and adverse events (AEs).ResultsWe included 39 pwIIH (mean age 33.6 years [SD 8.0], 92.3% female, median BMI 36.3 kg/m2 [IQR 31.4-38.3]), with 13 patients being treated with GLP-1-RAs. At M6, mean weight loss was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (-12.0% [3.3] vs. -2.8% [4.7]; p < 0.001). Accordingly, weight loss of ≥ 10% was more common in this group (69.2% vs. 4.0%; p < 0.001). Median reduction in MHD was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (-4 [-10.5, 0.5] vs. 0 [-3, 1]; p = 0.02), and the 50% responder rate was 76.9% vs. 40.0% (p = 0.04). Visual outcome parameters did not change significantly from baseline to M6. Median reduction in acetazolamide dosage was significantly higher in the GLP-1-RA group (-16.5% [-50, 0] vs. 0% [-25, 50]; p = 0.04). AEs were mild or moderate and attributed to gastrointestinal symptoms in 9/13 patients. None of the AEs led to premature treatment discontinuation.ConclusionsThis open-label, single-center pilot study suggests that GLP-1-RAs are an effective and safe treatment option for achieving significant weight loss with a favorable effect on headache, leading to reduced acetazolamide dosage in pwIIH.© 2023. The Author(s).

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