THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIOCTIC (ALPHA-LIPOIC) ACID FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE LOWER LIMBS CIRCULATION IN DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

In this study were included 37 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which, along with standard glucose-lowering therapy received thioctic (α-lipoic acid) «Berlition», initially 600 mg — infusion over 12–16 days, followed by an oral form of the drug up to 40 days. The control group included of 14 patients with compensated diabetes who were outpatients and received only glucoselowering therapy. In all three patients transdermally determined level of partial pressure of oxygen on the rear side of the foot. After the end of the injection of «Berlition» in a dose of 600 mg mean partial pressure of oxygen increased from 33,11 ± 7,21 to 34,20 ± 6,54 mm Hg (p = 0.054). At allotment of patients with NSS index > 6 in a special subgroup was obtained the increase of partial pressure of oxygen from 30,93 ± 5,92 to 34,48 ± 5,26 mm Hg (P < 0,05). After ending of drug administration the mean value of partial pressure of oxygen (37,65 ± 5,54 mm Hg) statistically significantly different from both the entry-level, and from the control group. At the same time significantly reduces the degree of diabetic neuropathy. The author makes the assumption that the resulting effect may be due to the fact that on the background of severe diabetic neuropathy develops the arteriolo-venular shunting, and in the condition of improving innervation of small diameter vessels (arterioles, venules) of lower limbs under the influence of thioctic acid «open» capillaries and stop functioning pathological shunts.