Clinical effectiveness and safety evaluation of long-term pioglitazone treatment for erythropoietin responsiveness and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis

Background: We aimed to assess the effect of long-term pioglitazone treatment on erythropoietin responsiveness and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis. Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label, parallel-group, controlled study of 63 type 2 diabetic hemodialysis patients who were randomly assigned to two groups: pioglitazone group (P-group; 15 – 30 mg/day pioglitazone plus conventional oral hypoglycemic agents) and control group (C-group; conventional oral hypoglycemic agents alone). We determined the efficacy of pioglitazone by monitoring anemia, glycemic control, insulin resistance, and levels of inflammatory cytokines and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin for 96 weeks. Results: Pioglitazone effectively reduced erythropoietin dose and maintained the target hemoglobin levels by improving insulin resistance up to the end of the study. In the P-group, hemoglobin A1c, glycated albumin, and triglycerides significantly decreased compared with the C-group. There was a significant reduction in homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and a significant increase in HMW adiponectin level in the P-group; these changes were significantly different compared with values for the C-group. No serious adverse effects such as hypoglycemia, liver impairment, or heart failure were observed in any of the patients. Conclusion: Pioglitazone treatment resulted in better glycemic control, improved lipid levels, an increase in insulin sensitivity and adiponectin levels, and a decrease in inflammatory markers, thus improving the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Erythropoietin responsiveness improved with a reduction in erythropoietin dose and may be associated with the improvement in insulin resistance due to long-term pioglitazone treatment.