Pioglitazone reduces epicardial fat and improves diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To examine the effect of pioglitazone on epicardial (EAT) and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT) and measures of diastolic function and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Twelve patients with T2DM without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease and 12 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to quantitate EAT and PAT and diastolic function before and after pioglitazone treatment for 24 weeks. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was measured with a euglycaemic insulin clamp and the Matsuda Index (oral glucose tolerance test).

Impaired left ventricular diastolic function in T2DM patients is closely related to glycemic control.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction commonly is observed in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We employed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) to investigate the hypothesis that LV diastolic dysfunction in T2DM is associated with poor glycemic control.

Methods: Forty subjects, 21 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 19 with T2DM, were studied with CMRI and TTE to assess LV function.

Pioglitazone Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Subjects With Diabetes.

Objective: To examine the effect of pioglitazone on myocardial insulin sensitivity and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Research Design And Methods: Twelve subjects with T2D and 12 with normal glucose tolerance received a euglycemic insulin clamp. Myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) and myocardial perfusion were measured with [F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose and [O]HO positron emission tomography before and after 24 weeks of pioglitazone treatment.