Effects of glitazones in the treatment of diabetes and/or hyperlipidaemia: glycaemic control and plasma lipid levels.

Both pioglitazone and rosiglitazone are effective hypoglycaemic agents in monotherapy as in combined therapy. Interestingly, their reducing effect on fasting glycaemia and HbA1c is maintained over time, suggesting a potential protective effect of glitazones on the pancreatic beta-cells. The effects on lipids of pioglitazone are more favourable than those of rosiglitazone. Indeed, pioglitazone appears to be well suited for diabetic dyslipidaemia, increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, decreasing triglycerides and small, dense low-density (LDL) particles with usually no effect on plasma LDL-cholesterol. Rosiglitazone also increases HDL-cholesterol, but has no effect on triglycerides and increases plasma LDL-cholesterol.