To evaluate the effectiveness of Beraprost sodium and its impact on vascular endothelial dysfunction in elderly patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

A total of 86 elderly patients (age≥60 years) with DPN were recruited and randomly assigned into a control group (n=43) and a treatment group (n=43). Both groups received regular treatments including drug treatment such as glucose-lowering, lip-lowering, anti-platelet and neurotropic medications, and non-drug treatment measures such as smoking cessation and foot massage.In addition, the treatment group was given 40 μg oral Beraprost sodium three times a day for 90 days.Data on vibrating perception threshold (VPT), transcutaneous oxygen (tcpO₂), ankle-brachial index (ABI), liver and kidney function, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were collected before and after treatment.

No adverse reaction was observed during the experiment.After 90-day treatment, both the control group and the treatment group showed decreased VPT values (F=23.06, 195.13, both P<0.01), increased tcpO₂ values (F=304.65, 594.33, both P<0.01), increased ABI (F=119.24, 336.60, both P<0.01), increased serum NO levels (F=375.48, 741.20, both P<0.01), and decreased serum ET-1 levels (F=49.07, 211.24, both P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the value of VPT (F=25.16, P<0.01) and the level of ET-1(F=61.83, P<0.01) were significantly lower, while the level of NO and the values of tcpO₂ and ABI were significantly higher (F=24.06, 62.82, 21.46, all P<0.01) in the treatment group.

Oral beraprost sodium can be effectively and safely used in DNP patients, and it can also alleviate endothelial dysfunction.

Diabetes mellitus; Peripheral neuropathies; Nitric oxide; Beraprost sodium; Endothelin-1