Objective:
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, a chronic progressive disease, is rising seriously. Rosiglitasone from the thiazolidinedion group is an oral antidiabetic extensively used in the treatment of type 2 DM. In this study we aimed to examine the effects of Rosiglitasone treatment on homocysteine and leptin levels.

Material and method:
The study included 20 voluntary patients (15 female and 5 male; mean age 51±12 years; and mean body mass index 28±5 kg/m2) who were diagnosed as type 2 DM and used Metformin, but whose blood glucose could not be regulated (high fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG) and HbA1c). 4 mg/day Rosiglitasone was added to Metformin (2 x 850 mg –3 x 850 mg), which was used for treatment. FBG, PBG, HbA1c, serum lipid levels, homocysteine and leptin levels of the cases were determined before and at the end of 12-week treatment period.

Results:
At the end of 12-week treatment, FBG fell from 176±68 to 147±39 mg/dl (p<0.05), PBG from 224±56 to 182±46 mg/dl (p<0.05), and HbA1c from 8.7±2% to 7.6±1% (p<0.05), all the decreases being statistically significant. T. Chol., TG, LDL, VLDL and HDL levels increased, but the increase was not statistically significant. Hcy level fell from mean 10.3±2.6 to 5.14±2.7 µmol/L (p<0.05), while leptin level rose from mean 10.8±7 to 15.38±8 ng/ml (p<0.05). No changes were observed in total protein, albumin, AST and ALT levels.

Conclusion:
Rosiglitasone treatment brought about significant changes in Hcy and leptin levels, besides regulating the blood sugar. ©2004, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi