Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a significant and rapidly growing complication of diabetes and its effects on wound healing. Over half of diabetic patients who develop a single ulcer will subsequently develop another ulcer of which the majority will become chronic non-healing ulcers. One-third will progress to lower extremity amputation. Over the past decade, the outcomes for patients with DFUs ulcers have not improved, despite advances in wound care. Successful treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is hindered by the lack of targeted therapy that hones in on the healing processes dysregulated by diabetes. Stem cells are a promising treatment for DFUs as they are capable of targeting, as well as bypassing, the underlying abnormal healing mechanisms and deranged cell signaling in diabetic wounds and promote healing. This review will focus on existing stem cell technologies and their application in the treatment of DFUs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Diabetes research and clinical practice |
Volume | 96 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chronic wounds
- DFU
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Stem cells
- Wound healing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology