[Improvement of diabetic polyneuritis with naftidrofuryl. Preliminary results]

This study was a 6-month open trial of the effects of naftidrofuryl fumarate (600 mg/day orally) on the clinical and electrophysiological signs of diabetic polyneuropathy in 15 patients. A scored clinical evaluation and an indexed electrophysiological examination were done at inclusion, and after 3 and 6 months. Mean clinical score and electrophysiological index was improved after 3 months of therapy, the improvement persisting at 6 months, with no change in control of diabetes. These results could be related to the vasodilating properties of the drug, causing an increase in nerve temperature, or to a specific neurotropic action, as recently demonstrated in rats. Controlled studies are necessary to confirm these results, and explore the mechanism of this improvement.