[Therapeutic effects of prostaglandin E1 in diabetic patients]

The therapeutic effect of prostaglandin E1 in 26 diabetic patients with symptomatic and disabling neuropathy has been examined. Authoritative experiments in the literature describe the potential coexistence, in diabetic neuropathy, of vascular and metabolic deficiencies that may justify the use of vasodilators.

The biological effect of PGE1 seems to meet these requirements; it has in fact a multifactorial action mechanism, c-AMP mediated, selectively acting on the microvascular district improving the tissular perfusion and favouring an aerobic metabolism. In diabetics suffering from neuropathy, a reduction of psychophysical and working abilities due to chronicity of pain, sensitive disorders and hyposthenia with early muscular fatigability is often detectable. It is not difficult to imagine how heavily this pathology can affect the quality of life in patients of different ages and social conditions.

The results of our studies confirm the possibility of a direct relation between microvascular damage and interference with the normal nervous tissue conduction, as described in the literature. After a 4-week therapy, data obtained from electrophysiologic and vibrometric tests show in many diabetic patients a significant functional improvement in the peripheral nervous system and, in more than 90% of the cases, of neurological symptomatology.

The methods needed to standardize therapeutic protocols are still to be verified, keeping in mind that the persistence of physiopathologic factors responsible for neurophathy may lead to the risk of relapses.