Rosiglitazone improves endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin

Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2011 Jul;8(3):195-201. doi: 10.1177/1479164111408628. Epub 2011 May 16.

Abstract

An increased incidence of myocardial infarction with rosiglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been reported. This study aimed to assess the effect of rosiglitazone on endothelial function, assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in 34 patients with advanced T2DM treated with insulin without known cardiovascular disease. Patients were randomised into two groups: no additional treatment was given in 17 patients, while 17 patients were given rosiglitazone for 6 months. Addition of rosiglitazone significantly reduced glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) (p < 0.0005) and fasting glucose (p < 0.05) and improved FMD (p < 0.005). No significant changes were observed in the insulin-only group. The single independent predictor of FMD improvement was rosiglitazone treatment (p = 0.048). These results show that, in patients with advanced T2DM treated with insulin, addition of rosiglitazone may have a beneficial effect on endothelial function. Further research is needed to investigate why this beneficial effect does not translate into improved cardiovascular prognosis in these patients.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Thiazolidinediones / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human
  • Rosiglitazone