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PubMed · 9314013

Metformin.

P M Bell·D R Hadden
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Abstract

Metformin, a dimethylbiguanide, was first synthesized in 1929 and was shown to be a potent hypoglycemic agent. It was rediscovered in 1957 and was widely used in Europe to treat obese type II patients. Metformin resurfaced in the 1980s and was shown to increase insulin sensitivity; this has led to its introduction to clinical practice in the United States for the first time. The small risk of lactic acidosis is now well documented and appropriate therapeutic guidelines have been established. Metformin is a sage and effective drug for management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

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Acidosis, LacticDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Diabetic AngiopathiesHumansHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminRisk FactorsJournal ArticleReview

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BibTeXRIS

P M Bell, D R Hadden. 1997. Metformin.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0889-8529(05)70265-6

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PubMed1999

Persistent mitochondrial dysfunction and perinatal exposure to antiretroviral nucleoside analogues.

BACKGROUND: Zidovudine is commonly administered during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. We investigated mitochondrial toxic effects in children exposed to zidovudine in utero and after birth. METHODS: We analysed observations of a trial of tolerance of combined zidovudine and lamivudine and preliminary results of a continuing retrospective analysis of clinical and biological symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction in children born to HIV-1-infected women in France. Mitochondrial dysfunction was studied by spectrophotometry and polarography of respiratory-chain complexes in various tissues. FINDINGS: Eight children had mitochondrial dysfunction. Five, of whom two died, presented with delayed neurological symptoms and three were symptom-free but had severe biological or neurological abnormalities. Four of these children had been exposed to combined zidovudine and lamivudine, and four to zidovudine alone. No child was infected with HIV-1. All children had abnormally low absolute or relative activities of respiratory-chain complexes I, IV, or both months or years after the end of antiretroviral treatment. No mutation currently associated with constitutional disease was detected in any patient. INTERPRETATION: Our findings support the hypothesis of a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and the perinatal administration of prophylactic nucleoside analogues. Current recommendations for zidovudine monotherapy should however be maintained. Further assessment of the toxic effects of these drugs is required.

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