title: Effects of acarbose in beta-thalassaemia major patients with normal glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinism.
abstract: The pathogenesis of diabetes in thalassaemia is complex and multifactorial. Understanding the sequence of abnormalities in the progression from normal glucose tolerance to impaired glucose tolerance may help in the formulation of ways to intervene in this process. In our study, we assessed the effects of acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, in five young adult thalassaemic patients with hyperinsulinism and normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A decrease of fasting insulin levels, insulin peak and area under the curve (AUC) after OGTT, were observed in thalassaemic patients receiving acarbose therapy. These values remained unchanged in an untreated group of eight thalassaemic patients. We believe that acarbose may have a potential role in the treatment of abnormalities of glucose homeostasis and insulin release.
authors.affiliation: Thalassaemia Centre, Umberto I Hospital, Siracusa, Italy. a.mangiagli@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangiagli
authors.forename: Saveria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: Manuela Caruso
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: Maria Concetta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raiola
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigano
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saviano
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D005947:Glucose; D020909:Acarbose