A single dose of 10 mg of a new vitamin B₁ derivative, o-butyrylthiamine disulfide (BuTDS), was injected intramuscularly to diabetic patients with neuropathy every morning for 10 to 39 consecutive days in order to evaluate its clinical effect and influences on both motor nerve conduction velocity and vibration sense threshold of the extremities.
Of 19 patients, 3 patientients responded to BuTDS remarkably, 3 satisfactorily, 7 faily effectively and 4 ineffectively. The drug was effective particularly for sensory disturbances. A tendency of simultaneous improvement in the vibration sense threshold, the tendon reflex and the peripheral motor nerve conduction velocity was also demonstrated.
It is concluded, based on the clinical results, that BuTDS has definite effects in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.