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Study · Case report or series · n = 1 · 2026

4 results

Weekly Liraglutide for the Management of Intractable Polydipsia and Interdialytic Weight Gain in a Patient on Hemodialysis: A Case Report.

Mora-Bravo F, Morales PT, Pincay G, Pineda S, Morales B

Cureus24 Jan 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41585614 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12831222 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.7759/cureus.102197 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41585614
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Summary

Volume status management is a critical challenge in hemodialysis. Water transgression usually results from intractable polydipsia, for which there are no approved pharmacological treatments. Given the emerging evidence on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in modulating neurological pathways that regulate dipsogenic behavior and satiety, their use is proposed as an unprecedented therapeutic opportunity. A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to glomerulonephritis was in a chronic hemodiafiltration program without residual diuresis. She started hemodialysis in 2017 and, in 2025, developed refractory hypervolemia driven by intractable polydipsia and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of 8% (6 L) on one occasion, and, on average, 5.72%. Management was severely limited by persistent baseline hypotension (90/60 mmHg) and episodes of intradialysis hemodynamic instability that prevented the achievement of dry weight. In this scenario, treatment with liraglutide (1.2 mg weekly) was initiated, resulting in a reduction in IDWG to 2.72% and a significant decrease in thirst (from 10/10 to 3/10 on an analog scale), which stabilized blood pressure and improved tolerance to the treatment. GLP-1RAs can act as potent dipsogenic modulators by modulating neural circuits of osmoreception in the central nervous system, independent of glycemic control. Although gastrointestinal effects require proactive management, the systemic enzymatic degradation of liraglutide positions it as a safe alternative in end-stage renal failure. Pharmacological modulation of the neuroendocrine axis of thirst represents a promising therapeutic frontier to transform the management of refractory hypervolemia and improve hemodynamic stability in patients with no residual diuresis without diabetes. The benefit of GLP-1RAs in this case, a non-diabetic patient on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, extends beyond traditional metabolic control. The clinical success of an intentionally chosen weekly liraglutide regimen indicates that the therapeutic goal was to influence the neuroendocrine system that manages thirst and satiety. This case emphasizes that non-adherence to fluid therapy during dialysis can be viewed as a treatable physiological imbalance rather than a behavioral issue. Although there are no standardized guidelines for weekly dosing, this proof of concept points to a potential new treatment approach. Using incretins as tools to regulate thirst deserves further research through controlled trials to verify their long-term effects on hemodynamic stability and quality of life in patients with ESRD.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome

    In a 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and refractory polydipsia, interdialytic weight gain fell after weekly liraglutide was started.

    In plain wordsIn one woman on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, weight gain between dialysis sessions fell after liraglutide started.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseInterdialytic weight gain
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Body weight · Kidney and urinary
    Studied dose
    1.2 mg weeklyAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    IDWG
    2.72%
    after liraglutide
    IDWG
    5.72%
    average before liraglutide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In this scenario, treatment with liraglutide (1.2 mg weekly) was initiated, resulting in a reduction in IDWG to 2.72% and a significant decrease in thirst (from 10/10 to 3/10 on an analog scale), which stabilized blood pressure and improved tolerance to the treatment.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to glomerulonephritis was in a chronic hemodiafiltration program without residual diuresis.
    Summary · context
    She started hemodialysis in 2017 and, in 2025, developed refractory hypervolemia driven by intractable polydipsia and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of 8% (6 L) on one occasion, and, on average, 5.72%.
    Summary · context
    Management was severely limited by persistent baseline hypotension (90/60 mmHg) and episodes of intradialysis hemodynamic instability that prevented the achievement of dry weight.
    Summary · context
    The benefit of GLP-1RAs in this case, a non-diabetic patient on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, extends beyond traditional metabolic control.
  2. 02HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome

    In a 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and refractory polydipsia, thirst decreased after weekly liraglutide was started.

    In plain wordsIn one woman on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, thirst decreased after liraglutide started.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseThirst
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    1.2 mg weeklyAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Thirst
    3 /10
    after liraglutide
    Thirst
    10 /10
    before liraglutide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In this scenario, treatment with liraglutide (1.2 mg weekly) was initiated, resulting in a reduction in IDWG to 2.72% and a significant decrease in thirst (from 10/10 to 3/10 on an analog scale), which stabilized blood pressure and improved tolerance to the treatment.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to glomerulonephritis was in a chronic hemodiafiltration program without residual diuresis.
    Summary · context
    She started hemodialysis in 2017 and, in 2025, developed refractory hypervolemia driven by intractable polydipsia and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of 8% (6 L) on one occasion, and, on average, 5.72%.
    Summary · context
    Management was severely limited by persistent baseline hypotension (90/60 mmHg) and episodes of intradialysis hemodynamic instability that prevented the achievement of dry weight.
    Summary · context
    The benefit of GLP-1RAs in this case, a non-diabetic patient on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, extends beyond traditional metabolic control.
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome

    In a 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and refractory polydipsia, blood pressure stabilized after weekly liraglutide was started.

    In plain wordsIn one woman on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, blood pressure stabilized after liraglutide started.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    Not applicableBlood pressure stability
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Blood pressure · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    1.2 mg weeklyAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In this scenario, treatment with liraglutide (1.2 mg weekly) was initiated, resulting in a reduction in IDWG to 2.72% and a significant decrease in thirst (from 10/10 to 3/10 on an analog scale), which stabilized blood pressure and improved tolerance to the treatment.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to glomerulonephritis was in a chronic hemodiafiltration program without residual diuresis.
    Summary · context
    She started hemodialysis in 2017 and, in 2025, developed refractory hypervolemia driven by intractable polydipsia and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of 8% (6 L) on one occasion, and, on average, 5.72%.
    Summary · context
    Management was severely limited by persistent baseline hypotension (90/60 mmHg) and episodes of intradialysis hemodynamic instability that prevented the achievement of dry weight.
    Summary · context
    The benefit of GLP-1RAs in this case, a non-diabetic patient on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, extends beyond traditional metabolic control.
  4. 04HumanCase report or seriesOther

    In a 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and refractory polydipsia, tolerance to dialysis treatment improved after weekly liraglutide was started.

    In plain wordsIn one woman on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, tolerance to dialysis treatment improved after liraglutide started.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseDialysis treatment tolerance
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Kidney function · Kidney and urinary
    Studied dose
    1.2 mg weeklyAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In this scenario, treatment with liraglutide (1.2 mg weekly) was initiated, resulting in a reduction in IDWG to 2.72% and a significant decrease in thirst (from 10/10 to 3/10 on an analog scale), which stabilized blood pressure and improved tolerance to the treatment.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to glomerulonephritis was in a chronic hemodiafiltration program without residual diuresis.
    Summary · context
    She started hemodialysis in 2017 and, in 2025, developed refractory hypervolemia driven by intractable polydipsia and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of 8% (6 L) on one occasion, and, on average, 5.72%.
    Summary · context
    Management was severely limited by persistent baseline hypotension (90/60 mmHg) and episodes of intradialysis hemodynamic instability that prevented the achievement of dry weight.
    Summary · context
    The benefit of GLP-1RAs in this case, a non-diabetic patient on hemodialysis with refractory thirst, extends beyond traditional metabolic control.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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