Resumen

OBREGON, Oswaldo et al. Tratamiento de la neuropatía diabética periférica con calcitonina. AVFT [online]. 2006, vol.25, n.2, pp.85-91. ISSN 0798-0264.

Summary Management of painful peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PPDN) remains challenging due to the poor effect of drugs currently available for its treatment. Although its pathogenesis is still controversial, many investigations support the hypothesis of vascular damage as the primary alteration. It has been prove that calcitonin increases the microcirculation through its effect in prostaglandins synthesis, in adition to its potent analgesic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of calcitonin on pain control and motor nerve conduction in PPDN. Methods: A double blind placebo control, six week trial was conducted in forty patients with PPDN. They were randomly assigned to one for 4 grups (n=10) treated either with salmon calcitonin or placebo for six weeks as follows; Group I 200 Uds of Calcitonin Intranasaly (INC) every other day; Group II, 100 Uds Calcitonin Intramuscularly (IMC) every other day; Group III, placebo Intranasaly (INP); and Group IV, Placebo Intramuscularly (IMP). Pain assessment was performed by means of a pain evaluation scale. Electrophysiologic evaluation was carried out at the right and the left antero tibial nerves (RATN, LATN). Results: Whereas glycosilated hemoglobin and blood glucose did not change significantly in all groups, a substantial improvement of pain and motor nerve conduction were observed in the two calcitonin treated groups.

Palabras clave : Diabetes; neuropathy; calcitonin.