PREGABALINS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC AND ALCOHOLIC POLYNEUROPATHY

Abstract

Diseases of the peripheral nervous system are ranking a leading position among other neurological nosologies. And polyneuropathy is known as more prevalent and severe disease. Numerous scientific reports highlight issues on different pathological conditions in relation to polyneuropathy, and in particular intoxications, hypovitaminosis (isolated or as complications of certain pathological processes), infectious and hereditary diseases, paraneoplastic syndromes, metabolic disorders, allergic reactions. These diseases when uncontrolled or untreated may result in the development of complications, among which is polyneuropathy. The diagnosis of polyneuropathy is relatively not difficult, because the disease is manifested as distal symmetrical sensory and/or motor impairments with transient disorders of autonomic nervous system. Diabetic polyneuropathy, in particular, is a late complication of diabetes mellitus, which determines the prognosis of the disease. Alcoholic polyneuropathy in a form of acute, subacute or chronic current variants is caused by the combined effects of thiamine toxicity and vitamin deficiency. At the same time, dysmetabolic polyneuropathies differ by variability of clinical manifestations and the general developmental patterns of the nerve conduction block that is determined by the peculiarities of degenerative and regenerative processes under different pathogenetic factors. Differential diagnosis of polyneuropathies is mainly based on the detection of somatic pathology and the comparison of the dynamic changes in the course of the diseases and clinical manifestations. The study has demonstrated diabetic and alcoholic polyneuropathies have clear distinct clinical-neurophysiological patterns. The article also highlights the treatment outcomes of combination therapy with pregabalin for diabetic and alcoholic polyneuropathies.