Healing diabetic ulcers with peptide matrix

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 306

The efficacy of a synthetic topical preparation containing arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) in regenerating the intracellular matrix and thus promoting healing of dermal ulcers was investigated by researchers in the United States in a randomized multicentre trial involving 65 adults with full-thickness, neurotrophic foot ulcers secondary to diabetes mellitus. Participants received, in addition to standard care, an application of RGD peptide matrix or a placebo twice weekly until complete ulcer healing, to a maximum of 10 weeks. The proportion of patients whose ulcer healed completely was more than four times higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group. The rate of healing was also significantly increased in the treatment group. There was no significant association between successful healing and the size or duration of the ulcers at baseline.

Source: Steed DL, Ricotta JJ, Prendergast JJ, Kaplan RJ, Webster MW, McGill JB, et al. Promotion and acceleration of diabetic ulcer healing by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide matrix. Diabetes Care 1996; 18: 39-45.

| CMAJ August 1, 1996 (vol 155, no 3) |