Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2009) 20 P373

1Department of Internal Medicine, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey; 2Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Disease, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey; 3Department of Endocrinology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.


Background: Diabetic foot ulcer and lower extremity amputation are leading causes of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. Diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are major reasons for diabetic foot ulcer. Most of the studies showed that hyperhomocystinemia is related with microvascular and macrovascular complications in diabetic patients. Also hyperhomocysteinemia is related to poor ulcer healing. In this study, we investigated the relationship of hyperhomocysteinemia and diabetic foot ulcers.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with diabetic foot ulcers, 35 diabetes patients without foot ulcers and 60 healthy individuals enrolled in this study. Wagner classification of diabetic foot ulcers was used. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured by Fluorescence Polarization Immuno Assay.

Results: Mean age was 60.0±10.5 years in diabetic foot ulcer group, 57.8±9.6 years in diabetic group and 55.6±6.8 years in control group (P=0.062). The groups were similar in terms of mean age and sex distribution. Homocystein levels were 10.67±1.79 μmol/l in control group, 17.54±5.64 μmol/l in diabetic foot ulcer group, 13.26±4.25 μmol/l in diabetic group and was statistically different (P<0.001). But no difference was seen between diabetic foot ulcer group and diabetic group (P>0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that; peripheral neuropathy and hyperhomocysteinemia (r=2.357/P=0.008 and r=0.171/P=0.013 respectively) were independent risk factors for diabetic foot ulcer development.

Conclusions: According to our findings, along with peripheral neuropathy and peripheral artery disease, hyperhomocysteinemia may be a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcer development.

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