Effects of a single drip infusion of lipo-prostaglandin E1 on vibratory threshold in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

We evaluated acute effects of prostaglandin E1 encapsulated in lipid microspheres (lipo-PGE1), in 14 type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV), vibratory threshold (VT), skin temperature and subjective symptoms were evaluated for 24 hours after a single drip infusion of lipo-PGE1. In 6 of the 14 patients, the decrease in VT (P < 0.05) more than 50% measured by an SMV-5 vibrometer was observed at 6 hours after the infusion (responders). Subjective symptoms were improved (P < 0.05) in 5 of the 6 responders, whereas it improved in only 1 of the 8 patients who had no change in VT (nonresponders). NCV did not change (P > 0.05) either in the responders or in the nonresponders by the infusion. The responders had less impairment in VT and milder retinopathy and nephropathy than the nonresponders (P < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that vibratory sensation and subjective symptoms can be improved by a single infusion of lipo-PGE1 in type 2 diabetic patients with mild neuropathy.