Diabetes Care, Vol 20, Issue 5 692-697, Copyright © 1997 by American Diabetes Association
Comparative effects of glibenclamide and metformin on ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular reactivity in NIDDM
P Sundaresan, D Lykos, A Daher, T Diamond, R Morris and LG Howes
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of New South Wales, St. George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of chronic glibenclamide and metformin
therapy on blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular responsiveness in
patients with NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with
NIDDM received metformin or glibenclamide for 1 month in a double-blind,
randomized crossover study. At the end of each treatment period, patients
were tested for forearm vascular responsiveness to intrabrachial arterial
infusion of diazoxide (an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener),
acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and norepinephrine, BP responses to
intravenous infusions of NE and angiotensin II, BP responses to cold
pressor testing and isometric exercise, and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring.
RESULTS: Metformin and glibenclamide produced similar glycemic control.
Mean 24-h BPs did not differ between the two groups, but mean 24-h heart
rates were significantly lower (75 +/- 6 bpm vs. 80 +/- 6 bpm) on
glibenclamide therapy than on metformin. Plasma norepinephrine levels were
significantly higher on glibenclamide (6.41 +/- 1.77 vs. 4.26 +/- 1.54
mmol/l, P < 0.01), and systolic BP responses to intravenous
norepinephrine and angiotensin II were significantly higher on
glibenclamide than on metformin (P < 0.02 and P < 0.05,
respectively). Systolic BP responses to cold pressor testing appeared
higher on glibenclamide than on metformin, but the difference did not quite
achieve statistical significance (P = 0.052). Baseline forearm vascular
resistance did not differ between the two drugs, nor did forearm vascular
resistance responses to diazoxide, acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and
norepinephrine differ. CONCLUSIONS: Glibenclamide therapy is accompanied by
greater systolic BP responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II and
higher plasma norepinephrine levels than those that occur on metformin
therapy. Lower heart rates on glibenclamide therapy despite evidence of
greater sympathetic activity suggests that glibenclamide may have negative
chronotropic effects.