[Drug-induced hyperglycemia: a study in the French pharmacovigilance database]

Abstract

Objective: To analyse drugs inducing hyperglycemia by using data reported to the French spontaneous reporting system and recorded in the French PharmacoVigilance Database (FPVD).

Methods: All cases with a report of hyperglycemia and/or diabetes in the French database between 1985 and 2008 were included in the study. We estimated the risk of hyperglycemia linked to drugs by the case/non-case method. Cases were reports including hyperglycemia and non cases all other reports. This risk was estimated through calculation of reporting odds ratios (ROR).

Results: During this period, 1219 reports including the words "hyperglycemia and/or diabetes" were registered (0.34% of the database). This adverse drug reaction occurred 1 fold over 4 in diabetics or as a part of HIV infection. Effect was "serious" in approximatively 50% of cases. We found an increase of risk during exposition with methylprednisolone [ROR=43.5; 95% CI (37.3-50.8)], tacrolimus [ROR=25; 95% CI (17.9-34.8)], olanzapine [ROR=19.9; 95% CI (14.9-26.5)], prednisone [ROR=18.9; 95% CI (15.7-22.8)] or pentamidine [ROR=15.4; 95% CI (8.2-28.3)].

Conclusion: Drug classes most frequently found in FPVD linked to hyperglycemia are antiretroviral, steroidal anti-inflammatory, second generation neuroleptic, immunosuppressive and diuretic drugs.