According to a new research conducted by Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, use of Rosiglitazone reduces 59.5 % risk of retina damage for diabetes type 2 patients. Rosiglitazone is the Thiazolidindiones class of oral drugs for the treatment of diabetes type 2.
The researchers found that patients who took the drug were less likely to develop proliferative diabetic retinopathy or to experience reductions in visual acuity (sharpness). However, the experiment is in the initial stage and they are not recommending the drug’s use until further several studies are done to confirm the result.
In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, existing blood vessels in the retina are blocked or damaged, resulting in the formation of new, tiny blood vessels. The condition is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among diabetic type 2 patients, and effective therapies yet to be available to slow down its progression.
According to the researchers, “This study alone does not rigorously prove that rosiglitazone either reduces the incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy or prevents loss of visual acuity. There may be adverse effects from rosiglitazone therapy for treatment of patients with diabetes specifically to reduce these ophthalmic complications. And because of this the therapy is not advocated at this time.”
"Determination of the full efficacy and clinical role of rosiglitazone in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and other angiogenic conditions awaits confirmation of risks and benefits and possibly large-scale definitive studies," the researchers concluded.
Although the experiment is in infancy but have shown greater sign of human help and can reduce the sufferings of the diabetic patients, who, with progression of age lose their eye sight mainly because of the diabetic retinopathy. This study would hopefully have better advantage than the possible adverse effect due to the use of this drug. However, it should be noted that all drugs are not suitable for all diabetic patients.
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