Pioglitazone slows progression of atherosclerosis in diabetes patients

Diabetes patients treated with the drug pioglitazone experience a significantly lower rate of progression of atherosclerosis compared with those treated with glimepiride, research has shown.

Findings were based on a study of 543 patients who were randomly treated with either pioglitazone or glimepiride in 97 North and South American hospitals for 18 months.

Percentage atheroma volumes (PAV) were measured at the start and end of the study.

Results showed PAV increased by 0.73% in the glimepiride group but decreased by 0.16% in the pioglitizone patients.

Journal of the American Medical Association (2008) 299:1561-1573