title: Effects of buflomedil on skin blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without overt micro- or macroangiopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effects of buflomedil on the peripheral microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without overt micro- or macroangiopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to receive buflomedil 600 mg/day for six months (N.=12) or no medication (N.=11). Skin blood flow in the lower limbs was assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months using Laser Doppler. We measured the following laser Doppler parameters: volume, flow and velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients treated with buflomedil, there was a significant increase in volume (P=0.039) and a trend for an increase in both flow and velocity (P=0.097 for both parameters). In contrast, significant decreases in volume and flow were observed in the control group (P=0.045 and P=0.027, respectively) whereas velocity did not change (P=0.150).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, buflomedil appears to have a beneficial effect on the peripheral microcirculation in patients with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Georgios Gennimatas General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsantilas
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hatzitolios
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karamitsos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C010651:buflomedil