Thiazolidinediones and congestive heart failure - Exacerbation or new onset of left ventricular dysfunction?

Abstract

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus have a high incidence of coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure (CHF). Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are a new class of pharmacological agents for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which have many beneficial cardiovascular effects. Peripheral oedema and weight gain have been reported in 4.8% of subjects on TZDs alone, with a higher incidence noted in those receiving combination insulin therapy (up to 15%), but there is limited data on the occurrence of CHF. Methods and results: In this paper, we report on six cases of TZD-induced fluid retention with symptoms and signs of peripheral oedema and/or CHF that occurred in subjects atten..