The efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone with concurrent sulphonylurea therapy in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria

An open label study was conducted to asses the efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone when administered concurrently with sulphonylurea compounds. Sixty-three type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in the study in three different centres across Nigeria, Zaria in the north, Lagos in the southwest and Port Harcourt in the southeast. Nigeria is a large country with multiethnic groups. Subjects were randomly divided into two treatment groups; one on only sulphonylurea and the other on rosiglitazone (4 mg daily) for 26 weeks in addition to the current dose of sulphonylurea. Fifty-two subjects (82.5%) completed the study. The addition of rosiglitazone to sulphonylurea therapy resulted in more steady control of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) over time, higher mean change in FPG from baseline and higher proportion of subjects recording HBA1C value of <7.5. There were no significant adverse events attributable to rosiglitazone therapy during the 26 weeks of therapy. It is concluded that the addition of rosiglitazone to sulphonylurea treatment is safe and has a synergistic effect in controlling glycaemia in type 2 diabetic patients. (Int J Diabetes Metab 15:62-67, 2007)