Growth factors in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: new technologies, any promises?

Foot ulcers remain a common problem, leading to increased morbidity in patients with diabetes. Despite the progress that has been achieved in revascularization techniques as well as in off-loading to relieve high-pressure areas, diabetic foot wounds remain a clinical challenge. Growth factors are a major technological advance that promised to change the face of wound healing. The most important of growth factors are recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The former has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of neuropathic ulcers when there is adequate blood supply. The latter is less demonstrably useful. Advances include methods of delivering growth factors.