A rosy future for rosiglitazone in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Abstract

The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have emerged as a potentially important addition to the pharmacological armamentarium for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. As a class, these agents directly target insulin resistance, while having no direct effect on the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas. Troglitazone, the prototype for this drug class, has proven efficacy in improving glycaemic control. However, it is associated with a 2% incidence of idiosyncratic elevation of liver enzyme levels, necessitating monitoring of liver function in treated patients. In contrast, the newer agent rosiglitazone [SmithKline Beecham; phase III] may offer increased potency for lowering blood glucose levels without affecting liver function, investigators said at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) [ Chicago, US; June 1998 ].