Effects of alpha-trinositol on peripheral circulation in diabetic patients with critical limb ischaemia. A pilot study using laser Doppler fluxmetry, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements and dynamic capillaroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether alpha-trinositol may have an effect on the microcirculation in patients with diabetes mellitus and critical ischaemia.


METHODS
Ten patients with previously known diabetes mellitus and with critical limb ischaemia were given alpha-trinositol during a 24 h infusion, resulting in a total dose of 2400 mg. Microcirculation was evaluated by means of laser doppler fluxmetry (LDF), transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) and dynamic capillaroscopy (CBV).


RESULTS
Plasma concentration of alpha-trinositol reached a steady state level after 1 h following the start of the administration. There were no detectable changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Laser Doppler flux increased from 41% to 57.5% and tcPO2 changed from 116 to 91 s in "half time recovery" after occlusion. Capillary blood flow showed an increase in resting velocity from 0.1 to 0.5 mm/s at 24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
The infusion of alpha-trinositol did not cause any changes in the haemodynamics in general, but resulted in changes in LDF(rest value), tcO2(half-time recovery) and CBV(rest flow) during or following the infusion suggesting improved microcirculation.
Nilsson
L
L
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Apelqvist
J
J
Edvinsson
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C059368:atrinositol