Objective: To explore the effect of ginkgo leaf extract (GLE) on vascular endothelial function (VEF) in patients with early stage diabetic nephropathy (DN).
Methods: Sixty-four patients were randomized equally by a randomzing digital table into two groups, the treated group and the control group. They were all treated for 8 weeks with conventional therapy for diabetes, but GLE tablets were given to the treated group additionally. Changes in VEF were estimated before and after treatment by ultrasonic examination of the brachial artery. In the meantime, changes in plasma levels of the von Willebrand factor (vWF), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were observed as well.
Results: The brachial arterial endothelium dependent dilating function in the treated group increased from 4.91+/-2.31% before treatment to 6.78+/-3.89% after treatment (P<0.05), while the level of vWF decreased from 182.05+/-64.13% to 128.56+/-48.98%, and that of NO increased from 50.16+/-24.64 micromol/L to 70.65+/-28.71 micromol/L (P<0.01). However, these indexes were not significantly changed in the control group after treatment (P>0.05).
Conclusion: GLE could decrease the plasma level of vWF, raise the plasma NO level and improve the endothelium dependent vascular dilating function in DN patients.