Atorvastatin treatment improves diabetic polyneuropathy electrophysiological changes in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients: a double blind, randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Statins are widely used amongst diabetic patients. Recently, it has been proposed that they may exert many beneficial effects on vascular function regardless of their cholesterol lowering action. There are also growing concerns about statins-induced polyneuropathy in diabetic patients. As far as we know, this is the first clinical trial that has studied the effect of atorvastatin on electrophysiological parameters in diabetic neuropathy.


METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that assessed nerve conduction velocity (NCV) parameters after a six-month therapy with atorvastatin, 20 mg per day.


RESULTS
Although there was an 11% difference in Motor to F-wave conduction velocity ratio (M/F ratio) between the studied group and the controls, this difference was not statistically significant. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) significantly improved by 5% (P<0.05) and the F wave was not significantly deteriorated.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, treatment with statins may have a beneficial effect on diabetic neuropathy electrophysiological changes, at least in the short-term.
Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences Kerman, Iran.
N
N
Zangiabadi
K
K
Shafiee
K H
KH
Alavi
A R
AR
Assadi
M
M
Damavandi
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin