Abstract

A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND NEW THERAPIES FOR DIABETIC WOUND HEALING

Soundarya Lokur and Neelakanth M. Jeedi*

ABSTRACT

Nearly 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus [DM], which is an increasing global health burden. In the US alone, DM-related expenses total more than $300 billion a year. Diabetic foot ulcers [DFUs], one of its numerous sequelae, are especially worrisome because of their chronic nature, high recurrence rates, and potential for serious consequences, such as limb amputation. Poor healing results are caused by a complex pathophysiology of diabetic wound healing that includes peripheral neuropathy, vascular insufficiency, immunological dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Better diagnosis and treatment approaches are desperately needed, as the DFU market is expected to expand significantly. This review examines new methods for improving recovery and lowering complications while highlighting recent developments in our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying diabetic wound healing.

Keywords: Diabetic wound healing, Diabetic foot ulcer, chronic wounds, delayed wound healing, hyperglycaemia, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, neuropathy, growth factors [e.g. VEGF, PDGF, TGF].