To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: DG DISPATCH - EASD: Pioglitazone May Improve Glycaemic Control In Combination With Sulphonylurea Therapy URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1E190E.htm Doctor's Guide September 19, 2000
By Mark Pownall Special to DG News
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL -- September 19, 2000 -- The diabetes drug, pioglitazone, has been found to reduce insulin resistance and reduce the decline of beta cell functioning in patients who are also taking sulphonylurea treatment.
These findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Jerusalem, Israel.
In a 16-week, placebo-controlled study of 521 patients, pioglitazone (Actos) -- a thiazolidinedione drug like risoglitazone (Avandia) -- was found to improve beta cell function over baseline by 38 per cent.
One of the concerns over long-term use of oral sulphonylureas in type 2 diabetes has been the gradual decline in beta cell function associated with their use.
The study also found a 30 per cent reduction, compared to baseline, in insulin resistance when pioglitazone was added to therapy.
Julio Rosenstock, MD, researcher at the Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Center in the United States said: "Patients on long-term sulphonylurea treatments have been found to experience a decline in beta cell function, but over our 16-week study, patients did not have such a decline. Adding pioglitazone to the sulphonylurea treatment may be able to improve long term glycaemic response."
A similar study for rosiglitazone from researchers from SmithKline Beecham in the US found a 23 per cent improvement in beta cell function when the drug is added to metformin therapy (the main oral alternative therapy to sulphonylureas).
The glitazones probably have this effect by reducing high levels of plasma glucose and free fatty acids, which are believed to be toxic to beta cells.
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