Effect of Deferoxamine on Wound Healing Rate in Patients With Diabetes Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most invalidating complication of diabetes and represents a big economic burden for the society. No specific therapy is available for diabetic foot ulcers.The aim of this study is to define a new approach for treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. Our concept is based on the improvement of the cellular reaction to hypoxia. It will address the transcriptional factor HIF-1 (Hypoxia inducible factor-1) which is the cellular sensor for oxygen and which is specifically repressed by hyperglycemia. The study will investigate the effect of local deferoxamine (0.66 mg/ml), the only known HIF-1 inducer, on the wound healing rate in patients with neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. The primary objective of the study will be the reduction with \>50% of the wound area after 12 weeks of treatment.