A comparison of the effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone combined with glimepiride on prothrombotic state in type 2 diabetic patients with the metabolic syndrome

To compare the effects of glimepiride plus pioglitazone or plus rosiglitazone in diabetic patients with the metabolic syndrome on coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters. 91 type 2 diabetic patients with the metabolic syndrome participated. All patients took a fixed dose of glimepiride, 4 mg/day. We administered pioglitazone (15 mg/day) or rosiglitazone (4 mg/day) in a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study. We compared body mass index (BMI), glycemic control, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters, and heart rate (HR) during 12 months of this treatment. A total of 87 completed the study (pioglitazone n = 45 or rosiglitazone n = 42). Body mass index increased after 12 months compared to baseline ( p < 0.05) in both groups. A significant decrease in glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c) was observed after 9 ( p < 0.05), and 12 ( p < 0.01) months in both groups. After 9 and 12 months, mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) levels were lower in both groups ( p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively), as were fasting plasma insulin (FPI) and postprandial plasma insulin (PPI) ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). An improvement in the homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA index) was seen at 9 and 12 months ( p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively) compared to the baseline value in both groups. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) was significant lower ( p < 0.05) in both groups after 12 months compared to the baseline values. No changes in tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) and fibrinogen (Fg) were seen during the study nor were there any changes in transaminases. We conclude that the addition of a thiazolinedione to glimepiride treatment in type 2 diabetic subjects with the metabolic syndrome is associated with a slight but significant reduction of PAI-1 value, related to a similar reduction in insulinresistance.