Glitazones linked to heart failure
Thiazolidinediones, also known as glitazones, may cause pulmonary oedema or exacerbate heart failure, according to the authors of a new study
(Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003;78:1088).
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the records of six patients with
type 2 diabetes who had developed signs of congestive heart failure and
pulmonary oedema after one to 16 months of therapy with rosiglitazone
(Avandia) or pioglitazone (Actos).
Three of the patients had become symptomatic shortly after increasing
the glitazone dose. All patients improved within a few days of stopping
the glitazone and administrating diuretics. The authors conclude that
glitazones may cause or exacerbate heart failure and pulmonary oedema,
and suggest these drugs should be avoided in patients with left ventricular
dysfunction or chronic renal insufficiency.
A spokeswoman for GlaxoSmithKline, manufacturer of Avandia, said: “All
the patients included in this study were treated outside the United Kingdom
licence and were either contraindicated or fell into a ‘treat with
caution’ category due to pre-existing risk factors”. |
