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.