Growth factors in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

✍ Scribed by S. P. Bennett; G. D. Griffiths; A. M. Schor; G. P. Leese; S. L. Schor

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 171 KB
• Volume: 90
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.4019

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Chronic foot ulceration is a major source of morbidity in diabetic patients. Despite traditional comprehensive wound management, including vascular reconstruction, there remains a cohort of patients with non-responding wounds, often resulting in amputation. These wounds may benefit from molecular manipulation of growth factors to enhance the microcirculation.

Methods

A review of the current literature was performed using Pubmed, with secondary references obtained from key articles.

Results and conclusion

There has been a generally disappointing clinical outcome from growth factor trials, although topical platelet-derived growth factor has shown significant benefit and should be considered in non-healing, well perfused ulcers after failure of conventional wound care. The modulatory role of the extracellular matrix in the cellular response to growth factors and data from regenerative-type fetal wound healing are further areas of interest. The chemical induction of microvessel formation may become a future therapeutic option.