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Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Study of a Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection for Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers
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Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Study of a Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection for Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Published on: March 3, 2023

Growth factors in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

S P Bennett1, G D Griffiths, A M Schor

  • 1Unit of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Dental School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. s.p.bennett@doctors.org.uk

The British Journal of Surgery
|January 30, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Diabetic foot ulcers often resist treatment. Topical platelet-derived growth factor shows promise for non-healing, well-perfused ulcers when conventional care fails, offering a new therapeutic avenue.

Area of Science:

  • Wound healing research
  • Diabetic complications
  • Regenerative medicine

Background:

  • Diabetic foot ulcers cause significant morbidity and can lead to amputation.
  • Conventional wound management and vascular reconstruction are insufficient for some patients.
  • Molecular manipulation of growth factors may improve microcirculation in non-healing diabetic ulcers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current literature on growth factors for diabetic foot ulcer treatment.
  • To identify effective growth factor therapies for non-healing diabetic foot ulcers.
  • To explore future therapeutic options for enhancing microcirculation.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review using Pubmed.
  • Inclusion of secondary references from key articles.

Main Results:

  • Growth factor trials have yielded generally disappointing clinical outcomes.
  • Topical platelet-derived growth factor demonstrated significant benefit in specific cases.
  • The extracellular matrix plays a modulatory role in cellular response to growth factors.

Conclusions:

  • Topical platelet-derived growth factor is a viable option for non-healing, well-perfused diabetic foot ulcers unresponsive to conventional care.
  • Further research into the extracellular matrix and fetal wound healing may offer new insights.
  • Chemical induction of microvessel formation presents a potential future therapeutic strategy.

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