Results from a study conducted at the University at Buffalo show that Avandia may have a positive effect on blood-vessel abnormalities in people at risk for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Cardiovascular disease affects more than 60 million Americans, with atherosclerosis accounting for 75 percent of deaths from cardiovascular disease. People at risk for these conditions show an inability of the blood vessels to dilate properly (known as vascular reactivity) and increased arterial inflammation, based on mediators for that condition. In the UB study, Avandia was shown to improve vascular reactivity and decrease levels of mediators associated with blood-vessel inflammation.

"Avandia's effect on the prevention of atherosclerosis and its anti-inflammatory properties, as shown in this study, is an extremely important finding that may change the way we look at cardiovascular-disease prevention in the future," said Paresh Dandona, M.D., UB professor of medicine, head of the Division of Endocrinology in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and at Kaleida Health, and lead study investigator. "These data show Avandia has potential beyond the treatment of type 2 diabetes and may prove effective in preventing heart attack or stroke in people without diabetes."

In the UB trial, researchers studied the effects of a six-week course of therapy with Avandia on non-diabetic, obese patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. Avandia is part of a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs, or glitazones) that treat insulin resistance, an underlying cause of type 2 diabetes and a key contributor to the develop
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Contact: Arthur Page
apage@buffalo.edu
716-645-5000 x1410
University at Buffalo
26-Jun-2001