Lower limb arterial intervention or autologous platelet-rich gel treatment of diabetic lower extremity arterial disease patients with foot ulcers

Background: To investigate whether lower limb vascular intervention or autologous platelet-rich gel (APG) treatment would benefit diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients with foot ulcers. Methods: A total of 82 diabetic LEAD patients with foot ulcers were recruited and divided into three groups: group A (30 patients received basal treatment), group B (21 patients received basal and APG treatment), and group C (31 patients received basal and lower limb vascular intervention treatment). All patients underwent routine follow-up visits for 6 months. The baseline characteristics and parameters were examined. After treatment, changes in all parameters from baseline were recorded. The differences between groups and the relationship among each parameter were determined. Results: There were no differences in the ankle brachial index (ABI) or major amputation between groups A and B (P>0.05). Compared with groups A and B, the ABI and major amputation rate of group C were improved (P 2 ), the heal rate or minor amputation between groups A and C (P>0.05). Compared with groups A and C, TcPO 2 , the heal rate and minor amputation of group B were improved (P 2 . Lower limb vascular intervention improves the ABI and reduces major amputation, and APG improves TcPO 2 and reduces minor amputation. Conclusions: In diabetic LEAD patients with foot ulcers, major amputation was mainly associated with the ABI, while minor amputation was mainly associated with TcPO 2 . Interventional surgery (angioplasty) mainly improves the ABI, reduces the incidence of major amputation and improves the macrovasculature, and APG mainly improves local TcPO 2 , reduces the incidence of minor amputation and improves the microcirculation.