title: Comparison of acute and subacute effects of deflazacort and prednisone on glucose metabolism in man.
abstract: Corticosteroid treatment produces glucose intolerance with insulin resistance. Recent reports have indicated that deflazacort (DF) is significantly less diabetogenic than prednisone (PN). A euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic (100 microU/ml) glucose clamp ( EHGC ) and 3H-glucose infusion for 240 min were performed in 6 healthy volunteers (HV) after administration of 15 mg PN or 18 mg DF, 12 h and 2 h before test. The glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was significantly (p = 0.02) higher after DF (4.75 +/- 0.58 ml/min X kg) than after PN (3.31 +/- 0.27 ml/min X kg). Basal hepatic glucose production (HGP) was significantly (p = 0.003) lower after DF (3.58 +/- 0.33 mg/kg X min) than after PN (4.44 +/- 0.23 mg/kg X min). A similar pattern was obtained for glucose volume (GV) and glucose pool (GP). The kinetic parameters of insulin were not significantly different after the two drugs. After 7 day of PN 30 mg/day or DF 36 mg/day, EHGC and 3H-glucose infusion for 240 min were performed in 10 HV. Glucose MCR values were significantly (p = 0.03) higher after DF (5.03 +/- 0.91 ml/min X kg) than after PN (2.80 +/- 0.26 ml/min X kg). HGP values did not different significantly after the two drugs. GV (p = 0.001) and GP (p = 0.002) were significantly lower after DF than after PN. Insulin kinetics were not significantly different after the two drugs. It is concluded that on acute and 7-day administration to healthy subjects DF, in an anti-inflammatory dose equivalent to PN, shows significantly less influence on glucose metabolism.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D011282:Pregnenediones; D005947:Glucose; C021988:deflazacort; D011241:Prednisone