Atorvastatin treatment improves diabetic polyneuropathy electrophysiological changes in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients: a double blind, randomized clinical trial.

AIM: 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. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, treatment with statins may have a beneficial effect on diabetic neuropathy electrophysiological changes, at least in the short-term.

The effect of oral verapamil on the visual evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Ionic channel rearrangements through demyelinated axons or supporting media play a significant role in remission of neurological deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The role of calcium channel blockers on the MS demyelination sequels is controversial. We studied the change of visual evoked potential (VEP) P100 induced by verapamil in MS patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: We conducted a randomized double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial on two groups of 20 clinically definite MS patients who had no relapse during the previous one year. Changes in P100 latency were compared between subjects taking 3 dosages of oral verapamil 40 mg, every 8 hours and subjects taking placebo. RESULTS: In the verapamil group, the P100 latencies shortened an average of 6.1 +/- 4 ms compare to placebo group 1 +/- 0.5 ms (P<0.05). Verapamil had no significant effect on the VEP duration. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests pharmacological manipulation of calcium-dependent process, possibly at the level of demyelinated axon, can rapidly facilitate conduction of electrical impulses in visual pathways of stable MS patients.