Long-Term Use of Chlorpropamide in Diabetes

Abstract

Chlorpropamide was given to 479 selected patients during a six-year period. Analysis of results in 339 of these showed that 196 or 58% achieved satisfactory control and 143 or 42%, unsatisfactory control. In the latter group were 31 patients with primary and 17 with secondary failure. Noteworthy is the fact that the 339 patients included 95 whose response previously to other sulfonylureas had been unsatisfactory. Untoward effects were noted in 20 patients: gastrointestinal, nine; skin rash, seven; and symptomatic hypoglycemia, four patients. Jaundice considered due to chlorpropamide hypersensitivity occurred in one patient; in a second patient mild, transient jaundice may have occurred. In certain other patients abnormalities were noted in serial liver function tests but a comparison of findings with those in control subjects failed to reveal significant differences.