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Slowing the initial titration rate of tramadol improves tolerability.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of three titration schedules on the tolerability of tramadol, and to determine whether slow titration would reduce the frequency of drug discontinuation due to adverse events. DESIGN: Multicenter, outpatient, double-blind, parallel study. SETTING: Twenty-eight outpatient study centers. SUBJECTS: Four hundred sixty-five patients with chronic joint pain Interventions. Patients were randomized into one of four treatment groups for 14 days: placebo, or tramadol dosage titrated at 1, 4, or 10 days to achieve the study target dosage of 200 mg/day. They continued taking their dosage of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug during the study. Each group was examined to determine if slower titration resulted in a statistically significant trend toward fewer discontinuations due to nausea and/or vomiting and dizziness and/or vertigo. Discontinuation due to any adverse event was similarly analyzed. If the trend was statistically significant, pairwise comparisons were performed to determine the statistical significance among titration rates. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A statistically significant trend was seen toward fewer discontinuations as a result of nausea/vomiting, dizziness/vertigo, and any adverse event as the titration rate decreased. Patients with 10-day titration rate required the fewest discontinuations, and this rate was statistically significantly different from both the 1- and 4-day rates for discontinuations. CONCLUSION: A slower rate of initiating tramadol therapy (50-mg increments every 3 days) improved tolerability with significantly fewer discontinuations due to dizziness or vertigo.

Aged↗

The safety and early efficacy of oral-loaded divalproex versus standard-titration divalproex, lithium, olanzapine, and placebo in the treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined the safety and tolerability of oral-loaded divalproex sodium in the treatment of acute mania, but not the early efficacy of this dosing strategy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early efficacy of oral-loaded divalproex. METHOD: In this pooled analysis, 348 subjects from 3 randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active- or placebo-controlled studies were used to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of oral-loaded divalproex with standard-titration divalproex, lithium, olanzapine, or placebo. Subjects were inpatients diagnosed with acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder (DSM-III-R or -IV and SADS-Change Version). Patients were administered oral-loaded divalproex (20 or 30 mg/kg/day on days 1 and 2 followed by 20 mg/kg/day, and increased at physician's discretion), standard-titration divalproex initiated at 250 mg t.i.d. and titrated to 40-150 microg/mL, lithium (300 mg t.i.d. initial dose) titrated to 0.4 to 1.5 mEq/L, olanzapine (10 mg q.d. initial dose) up to 20 mg/day, or placebo. RESULTS: The results demonstrate an early efficacy advantage for oral-loaded divalproex compared to standard-titration divalproex at days 5, 7/8, and 10. Efficacy was improved over lithium on day 7/8. There were no efficacy differences between divalproex loading and olanzapine. Divalproex loading showed greater efficacy than placebo at all time points. Divalproex loading was as well tolerated or better tolerated than the other active treatments as measured by adverse events and changes in laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the oral loading of divalproex leads to a more rapid antimanic effect when compared with standard-titration divalproex, lithium, or placebo and is better tolerated than olanzapine and as well tolerated as lithium or standard-titration divalproex.

Acute Disease↗

[Sources of error in the European Pharmacopoeia assay of halide salts of organic bases by titration with alkali].

A short overview has been given by the authors on the titrimetric assay methods of halide salts of organic bases in the pharmacopoeias of greatest importance. The alternative procedures introduced by the European Pharmacopoeia Commission some years ago to replace the non-aqueous titration with perchloric acid in the presence of mercuric acetate have also been presented and evaluated. The authors investigated the limits of applicability and the sources of systematic errors (bias) of the strongly preferred titration with sodium hydroxide in an alcoholic medium. To assess the bias due to the differences between the results calculated from the two inflexion points of the titration curves and the two real endpoints corresponding to the strong and weak acids, respectively, the mathematical analysis of the titration curve function was carried out. This bias, generally negligible when the pH change near the endpoint of the titration is more than 1 unit, is the function of the concentration, the apparent pK of the analyte and the ionic product of water (ethanol) in the alcohol-water mixtures. Using the validation data gained for the method with the titration of ephedrine hydrochloride the authors analysed the impact of carbon dioxide in the titration medium on the additive and proportional systematic errors of the method. The newly introduced standardisation procedure of the European Pharmacopoeia for the sodium hydroxide titrant to decrease the systematic errors caused by carbon dioxide has also been evaluated.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Disruption of performance under a titrating matching-to-sample schedule of reinforcement by drugs of abuse.

Five adult, male White Carneaux pigeons were trained to respond under a titrating delayed matching-to-sample schedule of reinforcement. Under this schedule, the length of the delay was changed as a function of the pigeons' performances in a manner that resulted in approximately 80% accuracy in matching performance. During the first five trials of each session, the delay value was fixed at either 3 sec or 30 sec (starting delay). On the 6th and all subsequent trials, the length of the delay value was increased by a fixed amount (the titration step), did not change or was decreased by an amount equal to the titration step. Initially, the starting delay and the titration step were set at 3 sec. These values were then systematically changed to a starting delay of 30 and a titration step of 3, and finally, a starting delay of 3 and a titration step of 1. Using this procedure, the effects of pentobarbital (0.3-10 mg/kg), cocaine (0.01-10 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (0.003-3 mg/kg) and phencyclidine (0.03-3 mg/kg) were determined under the different titration parameters. Pentobarbital was shown to decrease matching performance at doses (3, 5.6 and 10 mg/kg) that did not decrease response rates. Phencyclidine produced a similar effect at a dose of 1 mg/kg under two of the three phases of the experiment. No such specific effects were observed with cocaine or d-amphetamine. Thus, of the four drugs studied, pentobarbital showed the most pronounced effect on matching performance. Whether this represents merely a loss of stimulus control or a specific effect on memory is yet to be determined. In addition, the results of these experiments clearly show that when the delay value is allowed to change as a function of the pigeons' performance, pigeons are able to perform at or above 80% accuracy at longer delay values than those generally reported using fixed-delay values.

Animals↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance titration curves of histidine ring protons. Human metmyoglobin and the effects of azide on human, horse, and sperm whale metmyoglobins.

Four titrating histidine ring C2 and C4 proton resonances are observed in 220 MHz proton NMR spectra of human metmyoglobin as a function of pH. Values of ionization constants determined from the NMR titration data using an equation describing a simple proton association-dissociation equilibrium are curves (1) 6.6, (2) 7.0, (3) 5.8, and (4) 7.4. Four histidine residues have also been found to be solvent-accessible in human metmyoglobin by carboxymethylation studies (Harris, C.M., and Hill, R.L. (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 2195-2203). Two of the titration curves (3 and 4) deviate significantly from the chemical shift values normally observed for histidine C2 proton resonances. Curve 3, with a low pKa, is shifted downfield at high values of pH and also exhibits a second minor inflection with a pKa value of 8.8. On the other hand, the high pKa curve, 4, is shifted upfield at all values of pH. The characteristics of the NMR titration curves with the lowest and highest pKa values (3 and4) are very similar to curves observed previously with sperm whale and horse metmyoglobins (Cohen, J.S., Hagenmaier, H., Pollard, H., and Schechter, A.N. (1972) J. Mol. Biol. 71, 513-519). These results indicate that the histidine residues from which these curves are derived have unusual and characteristic environments in this series of homologous proteins. The NMR spectra of all three metmyoglobins are changed extensively as a result of azide ion binding, indicating conformational changes affecting the environments of several imidazole side chains. The presence of azide ion causes a selective downfield chemical shift for the low pKa curve and a selective upfield chemical shift for the high pKa curve in all three proteins. Azide also abolishes the second inflection seen in the low pKa curve at high pH. In addition to these effects, the presence of azide ion permits the observation of two additional titrating proton resonances for all three metmyoglobins. Increasing the azide to protein ratio at several fixed values of pH yields results which show that a slow exchange process is occurring with each of the metmyoglobins. In the azide titration studies the maximum changes in the NMR spectra occurred at approximately equimolar concentrations. The NMR results for these proteins in the absence and presence of azide ion are related to x-ray crystallographic studies of sperm whale metmyoglobin and the known alkylation properties of the histidine residues. Tentative assignments of the titrating resonances observed are suggested.

Animals↗

The pH dependence of red cell membrane transport of titratible anions. An NMR study.

The titratible carrier model for erythrocyte anion transport predicts that the pH dependence of titratible anion transport should differ considerably from that for monovalent or divalent anions. The effects of pH on titratible anion influx rates have been determined for a series of related anions, the phosphate "analogs". These compounds are simply substituted phosphorus oxyacids, differing in the number and acidity of titratible protons. Influx of each analog at 60 mM concentration into Cl- loaded erythrocytes at constant intracellular pH (7.2) was measured over an extracellular pH range of 4.0 to 8.0 using 31P or 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Influx rates peaked at pH values that increased with increasing anion pK. Using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to determine the effects of pH on the charges carried by a titratible anion and a titratible carrier, the pH at which the anion would most likely have the same charge as the carrier was found to be exactly midway between their respective pK values. The observed pH maxima for the phosphate analog influx curves are consistent with transport by a titratible carrier having a pK of 5.5.

Anions↗

Effects of morphine, methadone, nalorphine and naloxone on responding under schedules of electric shock titration.

Under two titration schedules, responses of squirrel monkeys adjusted the intensity of a continuous electric shock. In one schedule, responses produced food pellets but also increased a shock intensity which otherwise was decreased at a fixed rate (punishment titration). In another schedule, responses decreased a shock intensity which otherwise was increased at a fixed rate (escape titration). Responding maintained under the punishment titration schedule was only decreased by morphine, methadone, nalorphine and naloxone. This decrease in response rate was associated with a decrease in intensity of continous electric shock. Comparable rates of responding maintained under the escape titration schedule were either unaffected or increased over the same dose range of the same drugs. These effects on rate of responding were associated with either no effect or a slight decrease in intensity of continuous electric shock. When control rate of responding under the escape titration schedule was then increased by requiring five responses to decrease shock intensity, morphine, but not d-amphetamine, decreased responding at doses which had no effect or even increased responding when only one response was required to decrease shock intensity. These findings indicate that titration schedules are not always useful for studying the analgesic effects of drugs, but that specific effects of drugs are determined by specific details under which responding is maintained.

Analgesics↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance titration curves of histidine ring protons. Ribonuclease S-peptide and S-proteins.

The histidine C-2 proton NMR titration curves of ribonuclease S-peptide (residues 1 to 20) and S-protein (residues 21 to 124) are reported. Although S-protein contains 3 histidine residues, four discrete resonances are observed to titrate. One of these arises from the equivalent histidine residues of unfolded S-protein. The variation in area of the four resonances indicate that there is a reversible pH-dependent equilibrium between the folded and unfolded forms of S-protein, with some unfolded material being present at most pH values. Two of the resonances of the folded S-protein can be assigned to 2 of the histidine residues, 48 and 105, from the close similarity of their titration curves to those in ribonuclease. These similarities indicate a homology of portions of the folded conformation of S-protein to that of ribonuclease in solution. These results indicate that the complete amino acid sequence is not required to produce a folded conformation similar to the native globular protein, and they appear to eliminate the possibility that proteins fold from their NH2 terminus during protein synthesis. The low pH inflection present in the titration curve assigned to histidine residue 48 in ribonuclease is absent from this curve in S-protein. This is consistent with our previous conclusion that this inflection arises from the interaction of histidine 48 with aspartic acid residue 14, which is also absent in S-protein. The third titrating resonance of native S-protein is assigned to the remaining histidine residue at position 119. The properties of this resonance are not identical with either of the titration curves of the active site histidine residues 12 and 119 of ribonuclease. The resonance assigned to histidine 119 is the only one significantly affected on the addition of sodium phosphate to S-protein, indicating that some degree of phosphate binding occurs. In both the absence and presence of phosphate this curve also lacks the low pH inflection observed in the histidine 119 NMR titration curve in ribonuclease. This difference presumably arise from a conformational between ribonuclease and the folded S-protein involving a carboxyl group.

Animals↗

Analysis of adverse events in a dose titration study.

The authors have examined the analysis of adverse event data from an efficacy dose escalation trial. Unlike the analysis of efficacy data, the assumption that when a patient experiences an adverse event at a given dose, he or she will experience the same at a greater dosage level was not applicable in the analysis of adverse event data. Because the time effect is confounded with the dose effect in a dose escalation design, any assessment of a dose-effect relationship from such a scheme is found to be preliminary and suspect. For drugs that need to be dosed with a titration schedule, a time-dose-specific incidence of an adverse event provides more useful information than a dose-specific incidence. The pace of dose titration, which was found to be important in the manifestation of an adverse event, also needs to be specified. These aspects are illustrated with data from a specially designed trial. The entire study contained a placebo arm and three arms of an active drug randomized in a parallel comparative fashion. Within each of the three active drug arms, a forced titration scheme was used to raise the dose to different levels, which distinguished the three arms. With an efficacy dose titration design, the dose-response relationship for adverse events cannot be determined without incorporating a placebo arm and other arms with different maximum allowable doses. For drugs that need to be administered with a titration scheme, incidence of adverse events needs to be presented with the dosage, the time, and the pace of titration.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Optimization of a novel two-phase potentiometric titration method of barbiturates with mercury (II). Part I: Theory.

A two-phase potentiometric titration procedure for barbiturates with mercury(II) was developed. In the new titration procedure the barbituric acid derivative is dissolved in an aqueous borate buffer. An organic phase consisting of chloroform and benzyl alcohol is added, and the vigourously stirred contents of the titration vessel are titrated by a mercury(II) nitrate solution. The theory of the conditional formation constant in a two-phase system is derived to provide a basis for the selection of optimal titration conditions. It is shown that the new conditional formation constant of the two-phase system, K, increases if the mercury-barbiturate complex is extracted into the organic layer. By extraction of the barbituric acid derivative into the organic layer K is diminished, but this effect can be minimized by a correct choice of the pH of the aqueous layer. The influence of these factors on the pM jump in the equivalence point is demonstrated by calculation of the corresponding theoretical titration curves.

Barbiturates↗

Heparin and protamine titration do not improve haemostasis in cardiac surgical patients.

PURPOSE: Weight-based heparin and protamine dosing strategies for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) do not take into account interpatient variability in drug sensitivity and may result in bleeding complications. We compared the Hemochron RxDx heparin and protamine titration system with standard weight based management with regard to heparin dose, protamine dose, and perioperative bleeding. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five cardiac surgical patients were randomised into four groups. Group 1 received standard heparin and protamine management: Group 2 received heparin and protamine by in vitro titration. Group 3 had the heparin dose titrated, and group 4 had the protamine dose titrated. Coagulation tests, bleeding, and transfusion requirements were measured. RESULTS: The initial heparin bolus predicted by the titration was < 300 U.kg-1 in all patients. Group 2 received a lower heparin bolus for the initiation of bypass but total heparin doses were not different among groups (group 1 = 365 +/- 43, group 2 = 348 +/- 73 U.kg-1, group 3 = 394 +/- 86 U.kg-1, group 4 = 376 +/- 60; P = 0.06). Groups 2 and 4 received a lower initial and a lower total protamine dose (total dose group 1 = 4.03 +/- 0.65 mg.kg-1, group 2 = 3.56 +/- 1.11 mg.kg-1, group 3 = 4.22 +/- 0.90 mg.kg-1, group 4 = 3.38 +/- 0.98 mg.kg-1, P = 0.001). The incidences of incomplete heparin neutralisation (P = 0.14) and heparin rebound (P = 0.1) were not different among groups. Postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements did not differ. CONCLUSION: In cardiac surgical patients, heparin and protamine titration did predict a lower protamine dose but did not result in a measurable improvement in haemostasis during the perioperative period.

Analysis of Variance↗

Computer controlled titration with piston burette or peristaltic pump - a comparison.

The advantages and problems of the use of piston burettes and peristaltic pumps for dosage of titrant solutions in automatic titrations are shown. For comparison, only the dosing devices were exchanged and all other components and conditions remained unchanged. The results of continuous acid base titration show good agreement and comparable reproducibility. Potentiometric sensors (glass electrodes) with different equilibration behaviour influence the results. The capability of such electrodes was tested. Conductometric measurements allow a much faster detection because there is no equilibration of electrodes. Piston burettes should be used for titration with very high precision, titration with organic solvents and slow titrations. Peristaltic pumps seem to be more suitable for continuous titrations and long time operation without service.

Journal Article↗

Unusual properties of crocodilian ovomacroglobulin shown in its methylamine treatment and sulfhydryl titration.

The inhibitory activity of chicken and crocodilian ovomacroglobulins against trypsin was measured before and after their incubation with methylamine. The result for crocodilian ovomacroglobulin showed that methylamine treatment destroyed half of its activity, in unique contrast to human alpha 2-macroglobulin and chicken ovomacroglobulin for which methylamine either destroys the inhibitory activity of the former completely or does not affect that of the latter at all. Free sulfhydryl groups of chicken and crocodilian ovomacroglobulins were titrated with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) before and after incubation with trypsin. Prior to the incubation with trypsin the chicken and crocodilian proteins respectively had 0 and 1 titratable sulfhydryl per molecule of Mr 720,000. After treatment with trypsin the crocodilian protein had 3.5-4 titratable sulfhydryls, whereas there were no titratable sulfhydryls in the chicken protein. After denaturation of the crocodilian protein in sodium dodecyl sulfate at 100 degrees C the number of titratable sulfhydryls was 4. Chicken ovomacroglobulin again did not have an appreciable number of titratable sulfhydryls under similar denaturing conditions. Incubation of crocodilian protein with [14C]methylamine showed an incorporation of at least 2 mol of methylamine per molecule. The result indicated the presence of three intramolecular thiol ester bonds in crocodilian ovomacroglobulin with differential stability against external perturbations.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗

Alkalin titrations of human somatotropin, human choriomammotropin and ovine prolactin by circular dichroism and fluorescence.

Structural transitions occurring during the alkalin titration of human somatotropin, human choriomammotropin, and ovine prolactin have been investigated by means of circular dichroism and fluorescence emission spectra. Human somatotropin exhibited an isodichroic point at 287 nm, with all spectral changes being reversed upon back titration from pH 12.50 to pH 8.0. Fluorescence quenching as a function of pH produced a simple sigmoidal curve. Human choriomammotropin exhibited an isodichroic point at 288 nm. The fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra of this protein were found to be reversible between pH 8.0 and 11.0. However, on titration above pH 11, the isodichroic point and the reversibility of the circular dichroism spectra were lost. This conformational transition was accompanied by a sharp increase in fluorescence quantum yield. The circular dichroism spectra of ovine prolactin showed essentially no change on titration to pH 11.0. However, between pH 11.0 and 12.0, a sharp conformational transition was observed similar to that seen in human choriomammotropin, but not exhibiting the same increase in fluorescence quantum yield. The fluorescence titration of prolactin was found to be essentially reversible upon back titration from pH 12.5, although the circular dichroism spectra were not reversible from this pH.

Animals↗

A simple automated method for the fluorometric titration of calcium in biological fluids,.

A new automatic device has been developed for the determination of the calcium content in biological fluids. The method is based on a fluorometric titration technique, in which calcium is titrated with ethyleneglycolbis-(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The end-point of the titration is indicated by quenching of the fluorescence of a calcium-calcein complex, in which calcein is the fluorescein-complexone indicator. To obtain proper results we found it necessary to use a 1 molar potassium hydroxide solution as titration medium. The results are printed out directly in concentration units (mmol/l). In order to carry out these determinations, several electronic and mechanical devices, including a sample-changer, titration cabinet with built-in fluorometer, control unit and electron titrator, were developed. Together they form the new calcium automatic device of which several qualitites such as precision, recovery and correlation have been studied. The disturbing influence of bilirubin has been minimized by using an excitation wavelength of 492 nm, at which there is nearly no absorption by bilirubin. At a concentration of bilirubin of as much as 500 micronmol/l, the recovery of calcium is still about 96%.

Autoanalysis↗

Spectroscopic studies on histone-DNA interactions. II. Three transitions in nucleosomes resolved by salt-titration.

The multiple-step transitions in DNA-histone interactions in chicken erythrocyte nucleosomes with increasing ionic strength are resolved by salt-titration spectroscopy. Both the circular dichroism of the DNA and the fluorescence of the histones in nucleosomes change during the titration process with concentrations of NaCl from 0.1 M to 2.5 M. By differentiating the titration curves, three distinct peaks corresponding to three structural transitions are observed. The two peaks near 0.95 M and 1.45 M-NaCl are common to the circular dichroism and fluorescence curves. The circular dichroism curve has another peak near 0.55 M-NaCl. Because the derivative of the fluorescence titration curve for the DNA-(H3, H4) complex has only one peak near 1.45 M-NaCl, that peak is attributed to the dissociation of the histone dimer (H3, H4). The peak near 0.95 M-NaCl corresponds to the dissociation of the dimer (H2A, H2B) from the DNA-(H3, H4) complex, as shown by binding experiments of (H2A, H2B) to the DNA-(H3, H4) complex at the salt concentration near this peak. The peak near 0.55 M-NaCl reflects some inner-core structural change. As the change of the circular dichroism signal is reversible, salt-titration spectroscopy is applicable to equilibrium studies of the physical chemical properties of DNA-histone interactions. By the assumption of a non-co-operative model, the binding constant for the chicken erythrocyte (H2A, H2B) dimer to the DNA-(H3, H4) complex is calculated as 2.8 X 10(6) M-1 at 1.0 M-NaCl (20 degrees C, pH 7.6). The DNA sequence dependence of the stability of the DNA-(H3, H4) interaction is observed in the salt-titration profiles of reconstituted material. Decreasing stability of the interaction of (H3, H4) is observed following the order: poly[(dG)-(dC)] much greater than chicken erythrocyte DNA greater than poly[(dA)-(dT)]. It is concluded that histones (H3, H4) have a different DNA sequence dependence from histones (H2A, H2B).

Animals↗

In vitro tests for the measurement of clostridial toxins, toxoids and antisera. II. Titration of Clostridium perfringens toxins and antitoxins in cell culture.

The usefulness of cytopathic indicators for the titration of Cl perfringens beta and epsilon toxins has been investigated. Neutralization experiments with monoclonal antibodies have shown that the entities responsible for the lethal and dermonecrotic effects of Cl perfringens beta toxin preparations are identical. However, the cytopathic effects of the same preparations are caused by other entities. Therefore, titrations based upon lethal and dermonecrotic indicators of beta toxin are equally valid but those based on cytopathic effects are not. Similar experiments with Cl perfringens epsilon preparations have shown that their lethal, dermonecrotic and cytopathic activities are all caused by the same entity. It follows that all three activities can be valid indicators for toxin neutralization tests. Cell culture titrations of Cl perfringens epsilon antitoxin performed on rabbit sera at the levels of test prescribed by the European Pharmacopoeia have produced consistent results which agree closely with the dermonecrotic test. This test has, in turn, been shown to reflect the results of the mouse lethal test accurately. Titrations of cattle and sheep sera at lower levels of test have also produced results in close agreement with the in vivo test. It is concluded that cell culture titration offers a valid in vitro alternative to the use of mouse lethal and guinea-pig dermonecrotic indicators for the titration of sera generated in the course of potency tests and field trials of Cl perfringens epsilon vaccines.

Animals↗

Dose titration of repaglinide in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

A total of 385 drug-therapy naïve patients, with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, were randomised into a multinational, parallel-group study to compare two strategies for dose titration of the oral hypoglycaemic agent repaglinide. Patients were allocated to either a fasting blood glucose (FBG) monitoring group with titration target 4.4-6.1 mmol/l or to a post-prandial blood glucose (PPBG) monitoring group with titration target 4.4-8.0 mmol/l. An initial titration period of up to 8 weeks was followed by a 12-week treatment period. Glycaemic control and hypoglycaemic outcomes were compared for the respective groups. HbA(1c) decreased significantly more in the FBG monitoring group by a mean of 1.38% compared to the PPBG group by a mean of 1.22% (P=0.03). The glycaemic control targets were met by fewer patients in the FBG group than in the PPBG group (57% versus 86% (P<0.001)) despite a higher mean dose of repaglinide in the FBG group. The within-patient blood glucose variability was significantly lower in the FBG group than in the PPBG group (P<0.001). In conclusion, repaglinide lowered the HbA(1c) effectively and safely in both groups and self-monitored FBG is a suitable parameter for titration of repaglinide. Whether a lower PPBG target might be as good a guide as FBG for titration of repaglinide should be addressed in a future study.

Adult↗