PRAMLINTIDE - A HUMAN AMYLIN ANALOG REDUCED POSTPRANDIAL PLASMA-GLUCOSE, INSULIN, AND C-PEPTIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES

In order to determine the influence of a 5 h infusion of pramlintide c ompared to placebo on postprandial glucose, lactate, insulin, and C-pe ptide concentrations in patients with Type 2 diabetes, a single-blind, randomized, cross-over study was conducted in 24 patients; 12 treated with exogenous insulin and 12 managed with diet and/or oral hypoglyca emic agents. One hour after initiation of infusion, patients consumed a Sustacal(R) test meal. The protocol was repeated on the following da y with each patient receiving the alternate study medication. Pramlint ide infusion in the insulin-treated patients resulted in statistically significant reductions in mean glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and lacta te concentrations during the 4-h period after the Sustacal(R) test mea l. Pramlintide infusion also resulted in significant reductions of mea n insulin, C-peptide, and lactate concentrations, but not glucose conc entrations, in the patients treated with diet and/or oral hypoglycaemi c agents. Within this latter group, reduction in postprandial glucose concentrations in individual patients correlated with glycated haemogl obin values. These results suggest that administration of pramlintide may improve glycaemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or poorly controlled on diet and/or oral hypoglycaemic a gents. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.