Evaluation of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 levels in Iraqi patients with DFU

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus causes diabetic foot ulcers, “which are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations (up to 88 %)”. We aimed to show the serum levels of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in T2DM patients with and without DFU. A total of 90 subject including patients who have T2DM (N=30), with DFU (N=30), and healthy subjects (N=30) were enrolled in this study. The serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. When comparing the DFU group to the T2DM and control groups, the serum level of VEGFR1 was significantly lower in the DFU group (P= 0.0024 and P= 0.0026, respectively). There was a significant decrease in DFU in serum level of VEGFR2 when comparing to control group (P=0.0313). Positive correlations were found between the levels of glucose and VEGFR1, in the T2DM group, also a positive correlations were found between VEGFR2, and glucose levels, in the DFU group. We conclude that concentrations of VEGFR 1 and 2 in DFU patients are lower than those of control subjects, it could indicate that damage to the endothelial vessels lead to decreased concentration of these receptors in the DFU group.  The positive correlation between glucose and VEGFR2 levels suggests that glucose abnormalities seen in diabetics may play a role in angiogenesis modulation