Aims/hypothesis  

We evaluated in a double-blind study the effect of early treatment with the immunomodulatory drug fusidin in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods  

Twenty-eight adults with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were included in the study. The patients were randomly assigned (computer-generated random number sequence) to two experimental groups. Patients allocated to the fusidin (FUS) group (n=15) received sodium fusidate (fusidin; 500 mg orally three times daily for 4 weeks). Subsequently the drug was given at the same dose and scheduled for two consecutive weeks a month followed by 2 weeks a month without the drug for 20 weeks. Subjects allocated to the placebo (PCB) group (n=13) received placebo according to the same schedule and conditions described for sodium fusidate in the FUS group. All patients received a diet adjusted to their age and BMI, and intensive insulin therapy.

Results  

There were no statistically significant differences between the FUS and PCB groups in beta cell function, evaluated by basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide values during the follow-up (24 and 48 weeks). There was also no difference between the two groups in insulin requirement after 48 weeks (0.4±0.2 and 0.4±0.2 U/kg body weight for the FUS and PCB groups, respectively). Antibody titres, including insulin autoantibodies, were similar in the two groups during the follow-up.

Conclusions/interpretation  

Early treatment of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients with intermittently administered fusidin failed to influence the natural course of the disease.