title: Glycated albumin (GA) is more advantageous than hemoglobin A1c for evaluating the efficacy of sitagliptin in achieving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the utility of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and glycated albumin (GA) for evaluating the efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, sitagliptin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sitagliptin (50 mg) was administered orally once daily in 67 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Drug effectiveness was deemed present if the HbA1c or GA level decreased by 5% at week 4 and week 12 relative to the baseline value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean HbA1c level decreased from 8.1 ± 1.0% at baseline to 7.8 ± 0.9% at week 4 and 7.2 ± 0.8% at week 12. The mean GA level decreased from 25.0 ± 4.5% at baseline to 22.2 ± 3.8% at week 4 and 20.8 ± 3.5% at week 12. At week 4 and week 12, the drug was effective in 37.8% and 71.6% of the patients, respectively, when assessed based on changes in HbA1c, and in 83.6% and 97.0% of the patients, respectively, when assessed based on changes in GA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GA is superior to HbA1c for evaluating the efficacy of sitagliptin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Medicine, Kawashima Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Machiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D014230:Triazoles; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin