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Use of pioglitazone in the treatment of diabetes: effect on cardiovascular risk

Authors Zou C, Hu H

Received 2 May 2013

Accepted for publication 1 July 2013

Published 25 July 2013 Volume 2013:9 Pages 429—433

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S34421

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Cong Zou,1 Honglin Hu2

1Department of Endocrinology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Urology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China

Abstract: Pioglitazone and other thiazolidinediones (TZDs) initially showed great promise as unique receptor-mediated oral therapy for type 2 diabetes, but a host of serious side effects, primarily cardiovascular, have limited their utility. It is crucial at this point to perform a risk–benefit analysis to determine what role pioglitazone should play in our current treatment of type 2 diabetes and where the future of this class of drugs is headed. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the present literature. Clinical data currently available indicate that pioglitazone is an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment option for use in patients with type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone can still reduce adverse cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: pioglitazone, diabetes, cardiovascular risk

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