Effects of buflomedil on microvascular disorders in diabetic patients

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of buflomedil on hemorheologic, hemodynamic and microcirculatory properties in diabetic patients. Patients were 20 noninsulin-dependent diabetics with distal arteriopathy characterized by chronic hypoxia (transcutaneous oxygen pressure = 25.2 +/- 4.8 mm Hg). They were randomly assigned to two groups for a double-blind study versus placebo. The treatment consisted of a 4-hour intravenous perfusion of 400 mg of buflomedil or placebo as a daily dose during 7 days. Results showed significant improvements in hemodynamic parameters such as post-occlusive peak flow and time to peak flow at the end of buflomedil treatment. In the same manner, the transcutaneous oxygen pressure was found to be significantly increased after buflomedil treatment, whereas there was no modification by placebo. Indeed, red cell aggregation was significantly less important as a result of buflomedil treatment whilst red cell deformability was found to be significantly increased. These hemorheological improvements make the blood flow redistribution through the microcirculatory network easier and lead ultimately to better tissue oxygenation.