Statins may be useful in diabetic foot ulceration treatment and prevention. 2007

Erim Gulcan, and Aynur Gulcan, and Enver Erbilen, and Serdar Toker
Hospital of Dumlupinar University, Department of Internal Medicine, Kutahya, Turkey. drerimgulcan@gmail.com <drerimgulcan@gmail.com>

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) consist of an interaction of neuropathy, ischemia and infection. Neuropathy affects sensory, motor and autonomic pathways. Pathogenic factors for neuropathy include hyperglycemia, nonenzymatic glycosylation, oxidative stress, ischemic and hypoxic factors, nerve growth factor anomalies, activation of polyol pathway and immunologic abnormalities. All these factors are stated to contribute to microvascular disease and neural dysfunction. Peripheral neuropathy and ischemia combined with repetitive traumas can lead to diabetic foot ulceration. Fifteen percent of diabetic patients develop foot ulcers during their lifetime and nonhealing ulcers are responsible for 85% of nontraumatic lower extremity amputation. On the other hand, the treatment cost of foot disease in diabetic patients is estimated at $1 billion annually. When these conditions are considered, it is very important to design improved and novel strategies for treatment and prevention of diabetic foot disease. Lipid-lowering agents, such as statins, have been shown to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes. However, in addition, to preventing macrovascular diseases, statins may also be able to retard the progression of microvascular complications of diabetes. Statins alter the balance between vasodilatation and vasoconstriction in favor of vasodilatation by increasing nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, by downregulating endothelin 1 (ET-1) synthesis and reducing vascular response to angiotensin-2 (AT-2). These agents have been shown to augment cerebral blood flow by upregulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOs) and to reduce cerebral infarct size in a murine model of cerebral ischemia. In addition, recent in vivo and in vitro investigations have evidenced that statins have a favorable effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy independent of its lipid-lowering effect by demonstrating restoration or preservation of microcirculation of the sciatic nerve. We hypothesized that statins can be useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot. Possible mechanisms include the reduction of neuropathy and ischemia or through growth factors, the effectiveness of which has been shown for fracture healing in animal models.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007511 Ischemia A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION. Ischemias
D008962 Models, Theoretical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D002318 Cardiovascular Diseases Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM. Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D003920 Diabetes Mellitus A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
D003929 Diabetic Neuropathies Peripheral, autonomic, and cranial nerve disorders that are associated with DIABETES MELLITUS. These conditions usually result from diabetic microvascular injury involving small blood vessels that supply nerves (VASA NERVORUM). Relatively common conditions which may be associated with diabetic neuropathy include third nerve palsy (see OCULOMOTOR NERVE DISEASES); MONONEUROPATHY; mononeuropathy multiplex; diabetic amyotrophy; a painful POLYNEUROPATHY; autonomic neuropathy; and thoracoabdominal neuropathy. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1325) Diabetic Amyotrophy,Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy,Diabetic Neuralgia,Diabetic Polyneuropathy,Neuralgia, Diabetic,Asymmetric Diabetic Proximal Motor Neuropathy,Diabetic Asymmetric Polyneuropathy,Diabetic Mononeuropathy,Diabetic Mononeuropathy Simplex,Diabetic Neuropathy, Painful,Mononeuropathy, Diabetic,Symmetric Diabetic Proximal Motor Neuropathy,Amyotrophies, Diabetic,Amyotrophy, Diabetic,Asymmetric Polyneuropathies, Diabetic,Asymmetric Polyneuropathy, Diabetic,Autonomic Neuropathies, Diabetic,Autonomic Neuropathy, Diabetic,Diabetic Amyotrophies,Diabetic Asymmetric Polyneuropathies,Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathies,Diabetic Mononeuropathies,Diabetic Mononeuropathy Simplices,Diabetic Neuralgias,Diabetic Neuropathies, Painful,Diabetic Neuropathy,Diabetic Polyneuropathies,Mononeuropathies, Diabetic,Mononeuropathy Simplex, Diabetic,Mononeuropathy Simplices, Diabetic,Neuralgias, Diabetic,Neuropathies, Diabetic,Neuropathies, Diabetic Autonomic,Neuropathies, Painful Diabetic,Neuropathy, Diabetic,Neuropathy, Diabetic Autonomic,Neuropathy, Painful Diabetic,Painful Diabetic Neuropathies,Painful Diabetic Neuropathy,Polyneuropathies, Diabetic,Polyneuropathies, Diabetic Asymmetric,Polyneuropathy, Diabetic,Polyneuropathy, Diabetic Asymmetric,Simplex, Diabetic Mononeuropathy,Simplices, Diabetic Mononeuropathy
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000671 Amputation, Surgical The surgical removal of part of, or all of, a limb or other appendage or outgrowth of the body. Amputation,Amputation, Multiple, Surgical,Multiple Amputation, Surgical,Surgical Amputation Procedures,Amputation Procedure, Surgical,Amputation Procedures, Surgical,Amputation, Surgical Multiple,Amputations,Amputations, Surgical,Amputations, Surgical Multiple,Multiple Amputations, Surgical,Procedure, Surgical Amputation,Procedures, Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation Procedure,Surgical Amputations,Surgical Multiple Amputation,Surgical Multiple Amputations
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016523 Foot Ulcer Lesion on the surface of the skin of the foot, usually accompanied by inflammation. The lesion may become infected or necrotic and is frequently associated with diabetes or leprosy. Plantar Ulcer,Foot Ulcers,Plantar Ulcers,Ulcer, Foot,Ulcer, Plantar,Ulcers, Foot,Ulcers, Plantar
D017719 Diabetic Foot Common foot problems in persons with DIABETES MELLITUS, caused by any combination of factors such as DIABETIC NEUROPATHIES; PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASES; and INFECTION. With the loss of sensation and poor circulation, injuries and infections often lead to severe foot ulceration, GANGRENE and AMPUTATION, SURGICAL. Foot Ulcer, Diabetic,Diabetic Feet,Feet, Diabetic,Foot, Diabetic

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