[Effect of pioglitazone on arteria carotis remodeling in patients with metabolic syndrome]

To observe the effect of pioglitazone on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque-positive rate in patients with metabolic syndrome, and to find a new way to improve arterial remodeling in patients with metabolic syndrome.Patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into a control group (n=60) and a pioglitazone group (n=61). All subjects received basic therapeutic measures, i.e, appropriate medication to control blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Pioglitazone (15 mg/d) was given to patients in the pioglitazone group, and placebo (vitamin C) in the control group for 24 weeks. Color doppler ultrasound was used to measure carotid artery IMT and plaque-positive rate of patients in the 2 groups after the intervention. Japan's Hitachi 7600-020 automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure fasting serumal triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acids, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose and liver and kidney function, etc. The differences between groups after the intervention were analyzed and compared in IMT, plaque-positive rate and all blood biochemical indicators.After the intervention, compared with the control group, carotid artery plaque-positive rate and the levels of triglyceride and free fatty acid decreased in the pioglitazone group (P0.05), but there was no difference in IMT of carotid artery and other blood biochemical indicators between the 2 groups (P0.05).Pioglitazone intervention can significantly improve pathologic artery remodeling, and it can more effectively inhibit the arterial plaque-formation than basic therapeutic measures in patients with metabolic syndrome.