RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effects of chloroquine on metabolism of insulin,glucose,lipids and expression of insulinase gene (EIG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Fasting plasma insulin (FINS),fasting plasma glucose (FPG),glycoslated hemoglobin (HbA1c),plasma lipids and lipoprotein,insulinase activity of erythrocytes (EIA) and EIG were determined in 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus laking chloroquine for 14 day in dosage of 250mg twice daily,27 diabetic patients laking placebo and 20 normal subjects.Insulin sensitive index (ISI) were also calculated.Results Chloroquine caused a decrease in total plasma cholesterol,low density lipoprotein,EIA and EIG,and an increase in ISI,plasma high density lipoprotein and subclass 2.No change of these indices was observed in diabetic patients with placebo.Conclusion Chloroquine can ameliorate the dyslipidemia and insulin sensitivity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.This may be due to a decrease in EIG,which may result in lowered degradation of insulin.