Description
We present the cases of two patients, on treatment with
rosiglitazone, an oral anti-diabetic agent, who presented
with acute shortness of breath due to pulmonary oedema.
Both patients had underlying cardiac disease and both
patients’ condition improved with cessation of rosiglitazone
and standard heart failure therapy. There is an association
between rosiglitazone and fluid retention and therefore the
precipitation of life threatening heart failure with underlying
cardiac disease. These cases highlight the need to be aware of
the high prevalence of underlying cardiac disease in an older
population and the need to exercise caution in prescribing
rosiglitazone in this age group.
