Ефекат бенфотиамина у лечењу дијабетичне полинеуропатије

SUMMARYIntroduction Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common diabetic complications, which can result in a significant functional impairment and reduction of the qual-ity of life in affected individuals. It occurs due to alterations in different biochemical mechanisms which require the pres-ence of thiamine, which is why this vitamin is used in the ther-apy of DPN. Due to the low bioavailability of the hydrosolubile forms of thiamine, its liposolubile preparations (benfotiamine) are preferentially used. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of benfotiamine in combination with vitamin B6 in the ther-apy of DPN. Methods The study group comprised of 22 patients with DPN who were treated with the combination of benfotiamine and vitamin B6 during 45 days. The effect of the therapy was evaluated by the analysis of different clinical, laboratory and electrophysiological parameters before and after conducted treatment. Results After the treatment period, a statistically highly signif-icant reduction of pain (p<0.01) was noted with the reduction of pain score on visual analogue scale in 86.4% of patients. A significant reduction of subjective complaints was also noted, with decreased modified total symptom score in 95.5% of patients (p<0.01). The presence of alodynia was reported at the beginning of the study in 77.3%, and after the benfo-tiamine therapy only in 22.7% of patients, while hyperpathy was initially present in 90.9%, and after treatment in 31.8% of patients (p<0,01). Neurophysiological parameters of polyneu-ropathy also significantly improved, with the improvement of the compound muscle action potential amplitude in 68.2% (p<0.01) and motor conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve in 45.5% of patients (p<0.01). The improvement of the sensory nerve action potential amplitude (p<0.01) and sensory conduc-tion velocity (p=0.05) of the sural nerve was found in 45.5% of patients. After the treatment period, there was a highly statis-tically significant lowering of the glycosylated haemoglobin (p<0.01), with improved findings in 63.6% of patients. After completed study treatment protocol 86.4% of patients rated their overall condition as improved.