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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

In their excellent article, Dagogo-Jack and Santiago¹ include a helpful listing (Table 3) of wholesale prices of currently used oral hypoglycemic agents. Information comparing medications in terms of effectiveness and price is of great importance to patients, physicians, and payors when choosing between similar drugs within a pharmacological class or considering the benefits of combination therapy. However, the cost of troglitazone (Rezulin) was not included in this table. The wholesale cost to the pharmacist (at my medical center) for a 30-day supply of the lowest possible dose of this drug is $104.40, making it 2- to 72-fold more expensive than any of the other listed medications. Pathophysiological rationale aside, I think this is important information for readers when assessing the relative merits of these drugs.

Keith H. Bachman, MD
Lewiston, Me

1. Dagogo-Jack S, Santiago JV. Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and modes of action of therapeutic interventions. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:1802-1817. ABSTRACT

In reply

Bachman brings up the pertinent issue of the cost of therapy for diabetes. As indicated in Table . . . [Full Text of this Article]