Serum Collagen Level as a Predictor of Healing Wounds in Diabetic Foot Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: When deciding a treatment plan in diabetic foot ulcer patients, predicting a possibility of healing wounds is important since not a few patients have poor general condition to get successful wound healing. This study was planned to find out if a serum collagen level can be used as a predictor for healing wounds in diabetic foot patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients, who visited our clinic from January to June, 2007 for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, were included in this study. Serum levels of type I collagen were checked using carboxy terminal type I propeptide kits. Simultaneously serum levels of vitamin C and iron, cofactors of collagen synthesis, were checked. The patients were divided into two groups; a group of successfully healed wounds and the other of unhealed wounds. Serum levels of the parameters were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The serum level of collagen was 197.65+/-86.26ng/ml in a healed group and 87.91+/-28.76ng/ml in the unhealed group(p<0.05). The serum iron and vitamin C levels were did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: The serum collagen level may predict healing or nonhealing wounds in diabetic foot ulcers.