[Rosiglitazone: a clinical development focused on cardio-vascular prevention]

Type 2 diabetes is a recognized independent cardio-vascular risk factor, which adds to other known risk factors. In in vitro or animal models, rosiglitazone and/or other thiazolidinediones induced favourable effects on the various mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis. In type 2 diabetic patients, rosiglitazone and/or other thiazolidinediones have shown beneficial effects on blood pressure, arterial wall, vasomotricity, PAI-1 levels and urinary albumin excretion. These data are briefly reviewed. They justify carrying out a large program of prospective studies aimed to assess the effects of rosiglitazone on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients.