Effect of pioglitazone on insulin resistance, progression of atherosclerosis and clinical course of coronary heart disease.

INTRODUCTION

Pioglitazone, a medication of thiazolidinedione group, is capable of triggering the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-γ). Activation of receptor PPAR-γ regulates carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, immune and inflammatory responses in heart tissues.

THE AIM: Our aim was to study the effect of pioglitazone on insulin resistance, the clinical course of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study included 43 patients with coronary artery disease. Patients were divided into the main group - 20 patients, in whom pioglitazone (Pioglar, Ranbaxy, India) was included in the combined therapy at a dose of 15 mg 1 time per day in the morning, and the comparison group - 23 patients receiving standard complex drug therapy over 6 months. Patients underwent clinical examination, ultrasound of neck vessels, study of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

RESULTS

Joining pioglitazone to standard therapy resulted in the reduction of systolic (p<0.05) and diastolic (p<0.05) blood pressure; decrease in the duration of pain attacks (p<0.05); reduction in the frequency of angina attacks (p<0.05); regression of atherosclerosis of the carotid vessels (p<0.05), decrease in the thickness of the intima-media complex (p<0.05). The decline in oral glucose tolerance test (p<0.05), hyperglycemic factor (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.05), and low density lipoproteins (p<0.05) were observed, as well as increased high-density lipoprotein (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with pioglitazone at low doses against the background of standard therapy contributes to functional and clinical condition of patients, promotes the prevention of atherosclerosis and reduction of insulin resistance, thereby improving the clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease.