What Researchers Did
Researchers prospectively assessed endothelial function using peripheral arterial tonometry in 22 patients with diabetic foot ulcers and 17 patients without diabetes undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment, comparing results to 23 healthy subjects.
What They Found
At baseline, no significant differences in endothelial function (RHI) were found between diabetic foot ulcer patients (1.26), non-diabetic HBOT patients (1.61), and healthy controls (1.81). Hyperbaric oxygen treatment did not significantly change RHI in patients with (P = 0.17) or without (P = 0.30) diabetes. However, serum insulin growth factor-I was significantly reduced in diabetic subjects at 90-day follow-up (P = 0.001).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with diabetic foot ulcers undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment should understand that this therapy may not directly improve their endothelial function, despite its known benefits for wound healing. While HBOT remains an important adjunct, its impact on specific vascular markers like reactive hyperaemia index appears limited based on this study.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or by Canadian researchers.
Study Limitations
The study's relatively small sample size and focus on a specific measure of endothelial function may limit the generalizability of its findings.