The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of PIO (pioglitazone) or GLIM (glimepiride) on erythrocyte deformability in T2DM (Type 2 diabetes mellitus). The study covered 23 metformin-treated T2DM patients with an HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) >6.5%. Patients were randomized to receive either PIO (15 mg, twice a day) or GLIM (1 mg, twice a day) in combination with metformin (850 mg, twice a day) for 6 months. Blood samples were taken for the measurement of fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, intact proinsulin, adiponectin and Hct (haematocrit). In addition, the erythrocyte EI (elongation index) was measured using laser diffractoscopy. Both treatments significantly improved HbA1c levels (PIO, −0.9±1.1%; GLIM, −0.6±0.4%; both P<0.05) and resulted in comparable HbA1c levels after 6 months (PIO, 6.5±1.2%; GLIM, 6.2±0.4%) Treatment with PIO reduced fasting insulin levels (−8.7±15.8 milli-units/l; P=0.098), intact proinsulin levels (−11.8±9.5 pmol/l; P<0.05) and Hct (−1.3±2.3%; P=0.09), whereas adiponectin levels increased (8.2±4.9 μg/ml; P<0.05). No significant change in these parameters was observed during GLIM treatment. PIO improved the EI, resulting in a significant increase in EI at all physiological shear stress ranges (0.6–6.0 Pa; P<0.05). The improvement in EI correlated with the increase in adiponectin levels (r=0.74; P<0.001), and inversely with intact proinsulin levels (r=−0.47; P<0.05). This is the first study showing an improvement in EI during treatment with PIO, which was associated with an increase in adiponectin and a decrease in intact proinsulin levels, but independent of glycaemic control.
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Research Article|
July 06 2010
Pioglitazone in addition to metformin improves erythrocyte deformability in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Thomas Forst;
*Institute for Clinical Research and Development, University of Mainz, D-55116 Mainz, Germany
†Department of Endocrinology, Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz Germany
Correspondence: Professor Thomas Forst (email [email protected]).
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Matthias M. Weber;
Matthias M. Weber
†Department of Endocrinology, Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz Germany
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Mirjam Löbig;
Mirjam Löbig
*Institute for Clinical Research and Development, University of Mainz, D-55116 Mainz, Germany
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Ute Lehmann;
Ute Lehmann
‡Takeda Pharma GmbH, D-52066 Aachen, Germany
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Jürgen Müller;
Jürgen Müller
§acromion GmbH, D-50266 Frechen, Germany
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Cloth Hohberg;
Cloth Hohberg
*Institute for Clinical Research and Development, University of Mainz, D-55116 Mainz, Germany
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Christiane Friedrich;
Christiane Friedrich
*Institute for Clinical Research and Development, University of Mainz, D-55116 Mainz, Germany
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Winfried Fuchs;
Winfried Fuchs
‡Takeda Pharma GmbH, D-52066 Aachen, Germany
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Andreas Pfützner
Andreas Pfützner
*Institute for Clinical Research and Development, University of Mainz, D-55116 Mainz, Germany
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
March 11 2010
Revision Received:
May 20 2010
Accepted:
May 28 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society
2010
Clin Sci (Lond) (2010) 119 (8): 345–351.
Article history
Received:
March 11 2010
Revision Received:
May 20 2010
Accepted:
May 28 2010
Citation
Thomas Forst, Matthias M. Weber, Mirjam Löbig, Ute Lehmann, Jürgen Müller, Cloth Hohberg, Christiane Friedrich, Winfried Fuchs, Andreas Pfützner; Pioglitazone in addition to metformin improves erythrocyte deformability in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 October 2010; 119 (8): 345–351. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20100161
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