EFFECTS OF ALPHA-TRINOSITOL ON PERIPHERAL-CIRCULATION IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA - A PILOT-STUDY USING LASER-DOPPLER FLUXMETRY, TRANSCUTANEOUS OXYGEN-TENSION MEASUREMENTS AND DYNAMIC CAPILLAROSCOPY

Objectives: To evaluate whether alpha-trinositol may have an effect on the microcirculation in patients with diabetes mellitus and critical ischaemia. Materials and methods: Ten patients with previously known d iabetes mellitus and with critical limb ischaemia were given alpha-tri nositol during a 24 h infusion, resulting in a total dose of 2400 mg. Microcirculation was evaluated by means of laser doppler fluxmetry (LD F), transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO(2)) and dynamic capillaroscopy (CBV). Results: Plasma concentration of alpha-trinositol reached a st eady state level after 1 h following the start of the administration. There were not detectable changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Las er Doppler flux increased from 41% to 57.5% and tcPO(2) changed from 1 16 to 91 s in ''half time recovery'' after occlusion. Capillary blood flow showed an increase in resting velocity from 0.1 to 0.5 mm/s at 24 h. Conclusions: The infusion of alpha-trinositol did not cause any ch anges in the haemodynamics in general, but resulted in changes in LDF( rest value), tcO(2(half-time recovery)), and CBV(rest flow) during or following the infusion suggesting improved microcirculation.