Abstract:Objective To compare the curative effect of epalrestat and mecobalamine on diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).? Methods A total of 100 outpatients with DPN from April 2015 to April 2016 were enrolled and randomly divided into epalrestat group and mecobalamine group (n=50, each). All patients were followed-up for 12 weeks during treatment period. The symptoms and signs were assessed by Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) before and after treatment. Meanwhile, electromyography was used to measure the sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity of right ulnar, median and common peroneal nerves. The changes of above-mentioned indexes at different follow-up timepoints were compared after treatment between two groups.? Results At 4-, 8-, 12- week after treatment, the improvement of neurological symptoms and signs scores were significantly superior to those before treatment in both two groups(all P<0.05). The improvement of neurological symptoms scores at 4-, 12-week after treatment and neurological signs scores at 4-, 8-, 12- week after treatment in epalrestat group were significantly better than those in mecobalamine group respectively (all P<0.05). At 12th week after treatment, the nerve conduction velocities of motor and sensory nerves of right ulnar, median and common peroneal nerves were significantly improved compared with pre-treatment in epalrestat group (all P<0.05), and the nerve conduction velocities of motor and sensory nerves of right ulnar nerve were significantly improved only compared with pre-treatment in mecobalamine group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in safety index including hemoglobin, liver function and renal function between two groups (all P＞0.05).? Conclusions In the short-term effects, epalrestat is superior to mecobalamine in improving symptoms, signs and nerve conduction velocity of DPN patients.