Pioglitazone increases adiponectin levels in nondiabetic patients with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pioglitazone has been shown to increase levels of adiponectin in diabetic patients. We sought to assess whether administration of pioglitazone to patients with CAD and without diabetes would affect plasma adiponectin levels and endothelial function. METHODS: Seventeen patients with stable CAD and without evidence of diabetes were treated for 12 weeks with pioglitazone hydrochloride 30 mg daily. Adiponectin levels and endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (ED-FMD) measurements were obtained pretreatment, posttreatment, and after a 12-week washout period. RESULTS: Treatment with pioglitazone increased adiponectin levels from an average of 10.6 to 21.1 μg/ml (P=0.001) and improved ED-FMD from 4.45 to 8.43% (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Treatment with pioglitazone increased plasma adiponectin levels and improved ED-FMD in patients with stable CAD and no evidence of diabetes or insulin resistance.