Improvement of cardiovascular risk markers by pioglitazone is independent from glycemic control: results from the pioneer study
A Pfützner, N Marx, G Lübben, M Langenfeld… - Journal of the American …, 2005 - jacc.org
A Pfützner, N Marx, G Lübben, M Langenfeld, D Walcher, T Konrad, T Forst
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2005•jacc.orgObjectives: This study was performed to assess whether the anti-inflammatory and
antiatherogenic effects of pioglitazone suggested by animal experiments are reproducible in
man and independent from improvements in metabolic control. Background: Type 2
diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Methods: A total of 192 patients
were enrolled into a six-month, prospective, open-label, controlled clinical study. They were
randomized to receive either pioglitazone (45 mg) or glimepiride (1 to 6 mg, with the intent to …
antiatherogenic effects of pioglitazone suggested by animal experiments are reproducible in
man and independent from improvements in metabolic control. Background: Type 2
diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Methods: A total of 192 patients
were enrolled into a six-month, prospective, open-label, controlled clinical study. They were
randomized to receive either pioglitazone (45 mg) or glimepiride (1 to 6 mg, with the intent to …
Objectives
This study was performed to assess whether the anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects of pioglitazone suggested by animal experiments are reproducible in man and independent from improvements in metabolic control.
Background
Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Methods
A total of 192 patients were enrolled into a six-month, prospective, open-label, controlled clinical study. They were randomized to receive either pioglitazone (45 mg) or glimepiride (1 to 6 mg, with the intent to optimize therapy). Biochemical and clinical markers to assess therapeutic effects included HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin, adiponectin, lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), intracellular adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesion molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, soluble CD40 ligand, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).
Results
The study was completed by 173 patients (66 female, 107 male; age [± SD]: 63 ± 8 years; disease duration: 7.2 ± 7.2 years; HbA1c: 7.5 ± 0.9%; pioglitazone arm: 89 patients). A comparable reduction in HbA1c was seen in both groups (p < 0.001). In the pioglitazone group, reductions were observed for glucose (p < 0.001 vs. glimepiride group at end point), insulin (p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio (p < 0.001), hsCRP (p < 0.05), MMP-9 (p < 0.05), MCP-1 (p < 0.05), and carotid IMT (p < 0.001), and an increase was seen in high-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001) and adiponectin (p < 0.001). Spearman ranks analysis revealed only one correlation between the reduction in cardiovascular risk parameters and the improvement in the metabolic parameters (MMP-9 and fasting blood glucose, p < 0.05)
Conclusions
This prospective study gives evidence of an anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effect of pioglitazone versus glimepiride. This effect is independent from blood glucose control and may be attributed to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation.
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