Buffalo, NY, July 11, 2002 - Paresh Dandona, M.D., director of the Diabetes/Endocrinology Center at Kaleida Health’s Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital, was the lead investigator of a study to determine if a drug to treat diabetes could also decrease the incidences of heart disease and stroke in diabetic patients. Heart disease and stroke are the two major causes of death for diabetics.

The drug studied, Avandia, has been used to control blood sugar levels in diabetics for several years. Dr. Dandona’s research describes a novel property of the drug, which is to reduce inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels in the heart, thereby decreasing the risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, that lead to heart disease and stroke.

The study was conducted in Buffalo, and ongoing research is continuing. Priya Mohanty, M.D. was co-investigator for the study. Dr. Dandona presented his research findings at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco last month.

USA Today reported on the significance of the study findings in a story on June 17, following Dr. Dandona's presentation to the diabetes association.

For more information on this study or other studies in which the Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of WNY is participating, call 887-4069.