ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the clinical curative effect of metformin combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and the effect on islet function and Th17/Treg cell imbalance. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with SLE complicated with IGT were randomly divided into the combined group and the control group with 42 cases in each group. All of them were given life and diet guidance. The control group was treated with glucocorticoids while the combined group was treated with metformin combined with glucocorticoids. One month later, the curative effect was observed, and islet function and Th17/Treg cell imbalance were evaluated. RESULTS: The total response rate of the combined group was significantly higher than that of the control group (90.48% vs. 71.43%, P0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin combined with glucocorticoids is effective in the treatment of SLE with IGT. The treatment can control disease activity, lower blood glucose levels, improve islet function and correct Th17/Treg cell imbalance with high safety.