THE EFFECT OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(1)CENTER-DOT-ALPHA-CD ON VIBRATORY THRESHOLD DETERMINED WITH THE SMV-5 VIBROMETER IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

We studied the effect of prostaglandin E(1).alpha CD (PGE(1)) on diabe tic peripheral neuropathy by evaluating subjective symptoms and vibrat ion sensation using a new vibrometer (SMV-5). Patients with diabetic n europathy (n = 38) were divided into three groups; group A received no drugs (control), group B was treated with 1500 mu g/day of oral methy l vitamin B-12 (VB12) for four weeks, and group C received 1.2 mu g/kg /day PGE(1) intravenously for four weeks. There was a close relationsh ip between symptom scores and vibratory threshold (VT). The effect of PGE(1) on subjective symptoms and VT were compared with those in group s A and B. Patients who received PGE(1) showed a significant improveme nt rate in pain and hypesthesia compared to patients in groups A and B , and in numbness compared to group A. During the study period, there was no significant change in VT in groups A and B, whereas VT was sign ificantly improved at styloid process (P < 0.05) and at medial malleol us (P < 0.001) in group C. Our results confirmed that PGE(1) significa ntly improved both subjective symptoms and VT, indicating that PGE(1) therapy may be useful in diabetic neuropathy.