Effect of Lipoic Acid Treatment on Endothelial Microparticles in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Artery Disease in Lower Limbs / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of lipoic acid on endothelial microparticles (EMP) in diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) of the lower limbs. Methods Forty eight diabetic patients with PAD of the lower limbs were randomly divided into two groups the therapeutic group and control group (each group has 24 cases). Patients of control group only received internal comprehensive medicine therapies for 3 weeks. Patients of therapeutic group were treated with both lipoic acid (600 mg lipoic acid injection in normal saline solution for intravenous drip, once daily for 3 weeks) and internal comprehensive medicine therapies at the same time. The levels of EMP in venous blood and Ankle-brachial index (ABI) were estimated before and after treatment by flow cytometry. Results Compared to the control group after treatment [(1 179. 8± 120. 1) per μL], EMP value showed a significant reduction in therapeutic group [(1 032. 4±117. 2) per μL] (P<0. 01). The levels of ABI of therapeutic group (0. 68 ±0. 10) was increased obviously as compared that before lipoic acid treatment (P<0. 01). Patients treated with lipoic acid showed the higher levels of ABI than the control group after treatment (0. 58±0. 11) (P<0. 01). Conclusion Lipoic acid injection significantly decreased the level of EMP in diabetic patients with PAD of lower limbs. Lipoic acid might be an effective drug for diabetic patients with PAD.