title: Effect of 24 weeks of treatment with epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, on peripheral neuropathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The effects of treatment with epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, on peripheral neuropathy were studied in 45 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Epalrestat 150 mg three times daily was given for 24 weeks. Subjective symptoms, such as spontaneous pain in the lower extremities and numbness and hypoesthesia of the extremities or trunk, were significantly (P < 0.001) relieved after 12 and 24 weeks of epalrestat treatment. Vibratory perception thresholds, as measured by using a tuning fork (C-128) and a vibrometer, were improved after 24 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, there were no adverse effects on glucose or lipid metabolism during treatment. These results suggest that long-term (24-week) epalrestat therapy can be used effectively to treat peripheral neuropathy in NIDDM patients without affecting glucose or lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kigoshi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012236:Rhodanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D053778:Thiazolidines; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D053778:Thiazolidines; C038131:epalrestat; D012236:Rhodanine; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase