Clinical effects of neurotropin in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic neuralgia

AIM: To evaluate whether neurotropin is an effective drug to treat neuralgia. Using placebo as control, the effects of this drug were observed in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic neuralgia. METHODS: Forty type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic neuralgia were randomly and equally divided into treatment and control groups. Drugs usage was neurotropin in treatment group and for control group was sodium chloride; both were injection of 3 mL, iv, once a day for 2 wk; then, 2 tablets (neurotropin for the former or amylum for the latter), 2 times a day for 10 wk. Before and after the treatment, patients' fasting blood glucose(FBG), neuralgia, numbness, and limb nerve conductive velocities (NCV), cool senses, warm senses, vibration senses were examined and compared. RESULTS: After 2 wk treatment, the neuralgia was improved in the treatment group (visual analogue scale (VAS) scoring decreased (3.9±s 1.3), P0.01) while no change in control group, with difference between the two groups (P0.01). At the end of the treatment, the neuralgia appeared to be further improved in treatment group, VAS scoring decreased (5.4±1.4) vs (2.5±1.4) in control group (P0.01). 73 % (11/15) patients with neuralgia were under controlled. Symptom of numbness including 67 % (10/15) significant improved in treatment group, better than those in control group (P0.01). The NCV data showed no significant change in both groups. Limb cool senses, warm senses, and vibration senses were improved or delayed the deterioration rate in certain degree. There was no serious adverse reaction during the treating course. CONCLUSION: Neurotropin possesses good effect to treat diabetic neuralgia, numbness, with simultaneously improving the cool sense, warm sense, vibration sense, therefore ought to be a choice to treat type 2 diabetic neuropathy.