Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Placental Cells

Find out how Amnion and Placental Cells could help to treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers

What is a diabetic foot ulcer?

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) represent one of the most common complications suffered by people with diabetes.[1] A DFU is an open wound or sore on the skin that is slow to heal, which can have a profound impact on the morbidity, mortality and quality of life of patients.

The high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels over time, causing the blood supply to the feet to become significantly restricted. As a result, the feet receive a lower number of infection-fighting cells, which can lead to longer healing time.

Even a small cut or burn could lead to ulcers and infections. If a wound or sore becomes infected as a result of slow recovery time, there is a high risk that Gangrene could occur –ย  a serious condition whereby a loss of blood supply causes body tissue to die.[2] If this happens, the patient may need surgery to remove the damaged tissue and in severe cases, the toe or foot may need to be amputated.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Facts

  • 7 million people in the UK have diabetes
  • 10% of people with diabetes have a diabetic foot ulcer
  • The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled in 20 years.
  • Someone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes.
  • More than 4 in 10 people who have a foot ulcer will die within five years.
  • Studies suggest that between 70,000 and 90,000 people with diabetes have a foot ulcer in any given week.
  • Every week, diabetes leads to more than 169 amputations.
  • The NHS spends over ยฃ192 million a week on diabetes.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Placental Cells:ย Developments

Individuals suffering from diabetes need to take extra care of their feet. Diabetic foot ulcers continue to have high treatment costs and have now become a major global public health issue. Current conventional treatments for DFU include medicine, physical therapies and surgery. These therapies often require a long-term hospital stay yet despite this, difficulties still remain which make it unlikely for the wound to completely heal.[4]

However, stem cell therapy has recently emerged as a new interventional method to treat DFU, with an increasing number of successful preclinical and clinical trials taking place. In recent years, placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells have proven to be particularly successful in the treatment of DFU. This is due to placenta cells being multipotent, meaning they have the ability to produce and release a variety of regenerative growth factors which promote wound healing, which is crucial for DFU.

In 2017, a study was completed which assessed the efficacy and safety of placenta cells in wound repair and improving the rate of wound healing. The patient present in the study suffered from type 2 diabetes and a 20-day FCU, with conventional therapies having no effect on the foot.

As part of the treatment, the patient received placenta cells as a topical wound treatment for a period of three weeks. Thanks to the placenta cellsโ€™ regenerative and healing abilities, the patientโ€™s foot ulcer was completely healed after 3 weeks. The patient recovered function in their foot and the ability to walk with no relapse in the six months following the treatment.

Numerous other studies have demonstrated that placenta cells have the potential to play a significant part in the prevention and treatment of DFU in the future. These cells offer the potential for accelerating wound healing, reducing infection and preventing re-ulceration โ€“ providing a potentially life-changing option for diabetic patients in the future.

References

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.

krabbe disease

New Gene Therapy Set to Improve Stem Cell Treatment Outcomes for Krabbe Disease

A new therapy, recently granted a UK Innovation Passport Designation, could help to improve treatment outcomes for Krabbe disease patients post-stem cell transplant.   What is Krabbe disease? Krabbe disease is a rare genetic disorder affecting around 1 in every...
acute liver failure

Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Show Promise in Treating Acute Liver Failure

Advancements in stem cell research are transforming how we approach some of the most critical health conditions.ย  One particularly exciting area is the use of umbilical cord stem cells in treating acute liver failure (ALF).ย  ALF is a life-threatening condition with...
pregnant lady wonders if cord blood banking is worth it

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? A Comprehensive Guide

One of the questions we get asked most by expectant parents is whether or not cord blood banking is โ€˜worth itโ€™.ย  You may have heard about it online, or through a friend, but donโ€™t necessarily know what it entails, or what the benefits are.ย  In this blog, weโ€™ll break...

FIND OUT MORE, REQUEST YOUR WELCOME PACK TODAY

Connect with us

Pin It on Pinterest