INFLUENCE OF PONALRESTAT, AN ALDOSE-REDUC TASE INHIBITOR, ON DIABETICPOLYNEUROPATHY

The hypothesis that increased aldose reductase activity plays an impor tant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes-related complications has le d to the development of specific aldose reductase inhibitors (ARI). In a one-year randomized and placebo-controlled double blind study we in vestigated the influence of the ARI Ponalrestat versus placebo in para llel groups of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Twenty-six patie nts of the Ponalrestat group and 24 of the placebo group remained in t he study until its completion. To assess peripheral nerve function we measured the rate of motor and sensory neural conduction and the vibra tion and temperature threshold values. Autonomic neural function was a ssessed by determining the following parameters: variation of the hear t rate under forced breathing, during the Valsalva maneuver, and the r egulation of blood pressure after orthostasis. None of the investigate d parameters differed significantly between the two groups.