title: Effect of beraprost sodium on response to tests of autonomic control of heart rate in patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) produces greater vasodilating and anti-platelet effects than PGE1, but is chemically unstable. Beraprost sodium, a stable analog of PGI2, was given orally, 120 micrograms daily for 12 weeks, to 15 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to evaluate its effect on autonomic function. The effect of the drug on heart rate (HR) was evaluated in response to standing, rest, and deep breathing. The drug had a significant effect on HR in response to standing, but not during rest or deep breathing. Nine patients without preproliferative or proliferative retinopathy, and in whom factor analysis suggested the drug was effective with respect to autonomic nerve dysfunction, showed a significant improvement in their response to the three tests after beraprost administration for 12 weeks. Blood glucose was unaffected. Results thus indicate that beraprost sodium alleviates autonomic nerve dysfunction in diabetic patients in the absence of severe retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hara Sanshin Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D012119:Respiration; D012146:Rest; D012890:Sleep; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C048081:beraprost; D011464:Epoprostenol