Objective   To observe the effects of rosiglitazone on abdominal fat distribution and its relationship with lipid metabolism in the patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).  Methods   Eighty-eight MS patients admitted in our hospital from 2004 to 2007 were randomly and equally divided into rosiglitazone group (4 mg/day) and the control group. During the following-up of 12 weeks

blood pressure

and levels of blood lipid and glucose were controlled routinely in both groups. Blood pressure

blood levels of lipid

glucose

C-reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria (MAU) were measured before and after the intervention. The abdominal wall fat and intra-abdominal fat thickness were measured by ultrasonography.  Results  Systolic blood pressure (SBP)

diastolic blood pressure (DBP)

fasting blood glucose

and glycohemoglobin level were obviously decreased compared with the baselines in both groups. In rosiglitazone group

the triglyceride level was lower

but HDL-C was increased than that before treatment

and the intraabdominal fat thickness

C-reactive protein and microalbuminuria level were significantly reduced after the treatment of rosiglitazone (CRP: 4.53±4.13 vs 2.94±3.11 mg/L; intraabdominal fat thickness: 53.41±17.00 vs 45.14±16.94 mm; MAU: 67.79±88.55 vs 20.22±26.59 mg per 24 h

P0.05 or P0.01).  Conclusion  Rosiglitazone reduces the intraabdominal fat

suppresses inflammation and improves metabolic disturbance in MS patients

and all these may be due to its protection for renal impairment.