Metabolic parameters in diabetic neuropathic patients after treatment with pregabalin.

OBJECTIVE: To assess metabolic parameters in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) before and after 3 months treatment with a flexible dose pregabalin. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical trial. The metabolic parameters observed and recorded after 3 months treatment with a flexible dose pregabalin (n=331). RESULTS: The lipid profile parameters were significantly improved after treatment, total cholesterol, TC (P<0.01, 95% CI, 25.91-41.98), low-density lipoprotein, LDL (P<0.01, 95% CI, 21.11-34.80), triglycerides, TG (P<0.001, 95% CI, 56.43-79.26), all the three parameters significantly decreased while high-density lipoprotein, HDL, significantly increased (P<0.05, 95% CI, -8.61 to -5.51). Microalbumin mean was 16±1.39 before treatment versus 6.5±0.59 after treatment. Glycolated hemoglobin, HbA1c mean was 9.6±0.099 before pregabalin therapy and 7.6 ±0.06 after. BMI mean was 33.5±0.45 before versus 31.1±0.33 after (P<0.001). HbA1C was positively correlated with DPN severity before treatment (r=0.18, P<0.01). Same results were observed with weight and waist circumference (r=0.17, P<0.01, r=0.14, P<0.05 respectively). Oral anti diabetic medications (OAD) were also positively correlated to DPN severity before treatment (r=0.115, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prompt treatment of DPN has a significant effect on the metabolic parameters.