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Human Fibroblast-Derived Dermis Heals Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Human fibroblast-derived dermis safely and effectively treats chronic foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Specialists at the Foot and Ankle Institute of South Florida, South Miami, Florida, United States, reached this conclusion after a 12-week study to assess the treatment. They reported the findings from one centre.

After a two-week screening period, 28 patients were randomised to either human fibroblast-derived dermis plus saline-moistened gauze (n=14) or to a control group who received saline-moistened gauze alone (n=14).

There were three effectiveness end points: wound closure by week 12, time to wound closure and the wound closure percentage by week 12.

Patients randomised to the fibroblast-derived dermis received an application on day 0 and up to seven further treatments. All patients in each group received shoes with custom-molded inserts and all were seen weekly.

The 28 patients had had chronic ulcers for at least six weeks at the time of screening. By week 12, significantly more chronic ulcers healed in the human fibroblast-derived dermis group (71.4 percent) than in controls (14.3 percent).

Healed human fibroblast-derived dermis patients achieved wound closure significantly faster than controls. They also had significantly more wound closure by week 12 and fewer infections involving their study wounds.
Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery 2002; 41(5):291-299. "Healing of chronic foot ulcers in diabetic patients treated with a human fibroblast-derived dermis."

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