scholarly journals Pioglitazone: The forgotten, cost-effective cardioprotective drug for type 2 diabetes

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph A DeFronzo ◽  
Silvio Inzucchi ◽  
Muhammad Abdul-Ghani ◽  
Steven E Nissen

Type 2 diabetes individuals are at high risk for macrovascular complications: myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular mortality. Recent cardiovascular outcome trials have demonstrated that agents in two antidiabetic classes (SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events. However, there is strong evidence that an older and now generically available medication, the thiazolidinedione, pioglitazone, can retard the atherosclerotic process (PERISCOPE and Chicago) and reduce cardiovascular events in large randomized prospective cardiovascular outcome trials (IRIS and PROactive). Pioglitazone is a potent insulin sensitizer, preserves beta-cell function, causes durable reduction in HbA1c, corrects multiple components of metabolic syndrome and improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Adverse effects (weight gain, fluid retention, fractures) must be considered, but are diminished with lower doses and are arguably outweighed by these multiple benefits. With healthcare expenses attributable to diabetes increasing rapidly, this cost-effective drug requires reconsideration in the therapeutic armamentarium for the disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-226
Author(s):  
IU Ezeani ◽  
A Eregie ◽  
AE Ohwovoriole

Recent reports from Cardiovascular Outcome Trials (CVOTs) revealed that some newer anti-diabetic drugs impact Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE). These medications include the Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter (SGLT2) inhibitors and the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. There is a need for a review of the mechanisms of action of these drugs, in addition to their glucose-lowering effects and CV benefits. This review paper aims to explore the cardio-protective effects and CV risks of anti-diabetic medications, their mechanisms of action and the CV benefits evidenced by CVOTs. Using internet search, with search items such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular outcome trials, major adverse cardiovascular events, sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, the Google Scholar, EMBASE, PubMed, Medline, Web MD, and Scopus were checked for various relevant published articles. Analyses of the results of multiple CVOTs from various parts of the world were considered. These CVOTs were reviewed to assess the role of anti-diabetic agents in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with T2DM. The SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 agonists were found to be beneficial in lowering MACE when compared with placebo. This is in addition to their anti-hyperglycaemic benefits. In conclusion, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists confer dramatic beneficial CV risk reduction on patients with T2DM, as shown by the various CVOTs. This is in addition to their anti-hyperglycaemic effects. This remarkable benefit justifies the need by various guidelines to adopt them as second line agents to metformin in managing patients with T2DM.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-141
Author(s):  
Miles Fisher

EMPA-REG OUTCOME was an FDA-mandated cardiovascular outcome trial with empagliflozin and was the first completed trial with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. EMPA-REG OUTCOME compared empagliflozin and placebo in 7,020 subjects with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The results were astounding as EMPA-REG OUTCOME demonstrated superiority for major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke) and cardiovascular deaths were significantly reduced, as was all-cause mortality. Hospitalisation for heart failure, which was a secondary outcome, was also significantly reduced. Later trials with SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and hospitalisation for heart failure, and trials with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists have demonstrated reductions in MACE. Collectively, these trials could transform the management of people with type 2 diabetes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raveendran Arkiath Veettil ◽  
Cornelius James Fernandez ◽  
Koshy Jacob

: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by a progressive beta cell dysfunction in the setting of peripheral insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in subjects with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome is primarily caused by an ectopic fat accumulation in liver and skeletal muscle. Insulin sensitizers are particularly important in the management of T2DM. Though, thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are principally insulin sensitizers, they possess an ability to preserve pancreatic β-cell function and thereby exhibit durable glycemic control. Cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have shown that Glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and sodium glucose transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have proven cardiovascular safety. In this era of CVOTs, drugs with proven cardiovascular (CV) safety are often preferred in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease or at risk of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we will describe the three available drugs belonging to the TZD family, with special emphasis on their efficacy and CV safety.


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