Cardiovascular Effects of Thiazolidinediones: A Review of the Literature

Type 2 diabetes is a common problem with serious complications. Optimal glycemic control is a major challenge in diabetes, and inadequate control can lead to acute complications as well as end-organ damage. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in diabetes. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), one of the newer classes of diabetes medications, are an important part of diabetes care and have recently been implicated in increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is convincing evidence that these drugs can cause fluid retention, but whether they are indeed precipitating agents for myocardial infarction and death is less clear. The multiple studies addressing these issues are the focus of this review.