Pioglitazone improves the cardio-ankle vascular index in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is known to be associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Pioglitazone improves blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is an arterial stiffness parameter. Arterial stiffness is closely associated with cardiovascular disease. However, PWV is correlated with BP. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) reflects arterial stiffness independent of BP. Pioglitazone improves PWV but reduces blood pressure. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on arterial stiffness with CAVI. METHODS Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and already on 500 mg/day of metformin received add-on therapy of pioglitazone 15 mg/day or glimepiride 1 mg/day for 6 months, during which time changes in their metabolic parameters and CAVI were observed. RESULTS After 6 months of treatment, both pioglitazone (n=30) and glimepiride (n=30) improved fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin. The changes in fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin between the two groups were greater in the pioglitazone group. Systolic and diastolic BP was decreased in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. Only pioglitazone increased serum adiponectin levels, and the change in adiponectin between the pioglitazone and glimepiride groups was significantly different. CAVI was decreased significantly by pioglitazone but remained unchanged after treatment with glimepiride. The change in CAVI between the two groups was significantly different. CONCLUSION These results suggest that pioglitazone improves CAVI, a BP-independent arterial stiffness parameter, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin.