Evaluation of serum chitinase-3-like protein 1, pentraxin-3, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in diabetic foot cases

Introduction: Diabetic foot is a chronic metabolic disease requiring a long duration of treatment and hospitalization in advanced stages. It requires a multidisciplinary approach to the different clinical presentations of the disease that complicate the process. In this study, the effects of serum chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels on the prognosis of diabetic foot in different stages were evaluated. Subjects and Methods: A total of 65 patients with diabetes, and 13 healthy controls were included in the study. Wagner stage 0–1 patients were classified as mild disease (n = 26), Wagner stage 2–3 patients were classified as moderate disease (n = 26), and Wagner Stage 4 patients were classified as severe disease (n = 13). Venous blood was taken from the patients, and serum C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin A1c, YKL-40, PTX-3, and NGAL levels were evaluated. In addition, the relationship between lower extremity vascular status and the markers was investigated. Results: YKL-40 was significantly higher in the severe disease group, PTX-3 was significantly higher in the moderate disease group, and NGAL was significantly higher in the mild disease group. In addition, YKL-40 and PTX-3 levels were found to be high in patients with arterial and venous insufficiency, but this was not observed for NGAL. Conclusions: High levels of serum YKL-40 are associated with advanced stage disease with atherosclerotic process at the forefront, high PTX-3 levels are associated with moderate stage disease with a high level of infection findings, and high NGAL levels are associated with the mild stage of diabetic foot.