Abstract
A 60-year-old man was referred to S-hospital because of body weight loss in March, 1998. On admission HbA1c level was 11.5%, leading to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, thus insulin therapy was started. Hisglycemic control improved rapidly, e. i. HbA1c level decreased to 6.6% in June, however bilateral numbness of hands and feet, and right hypochondriac pain occurred. He was admitted to our hospital for closer examination on Aug. 18. Based on symptoms and results of examinations, the right hypochondriac pain was considered to be due to diabetic thoracic radiculopathy. Lipo-prostaglandin E1 (Lipo-PGE1) was administered for treatment, and symptoms improved remarkably 14 days after the Lipo-PGE administration commenced. But 14 days after discontinuing the drug, the right hypochondriac pain recurred. When Lipo-PGE1 was readministered, the symptoms again improved. In this case the onset of the bilateral numbness of hands and feet seemed to be caused by post-treatment neuropathy. On the other hand, the effect of the Lipo-PGE1 sug gested that radicular ischemia may play an important role in the development of diabetic thoracic radiculo pathy.
