J Wound Care. 2026 Aug 2;35(8):710-716. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2024.0143. Epub 2026 Aug 10.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on vascular calcification and the severity of diabetic foot syndrome, which is a major public health issue globally due to its significant economic burden, high mortality and morbidity rates. OPG is a glycoprotein that belongs to the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily and is secreted by various tissues, such as endothelial and smooth muscle cells, particularly bone.
METHOD: In this study, patients who were admitted to Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Adana, Türkiye, were included. Serum OPG concentrations were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. In the serum samples obtained from the patients, simultaneous glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid panel, C-reactive protein (CRP), haemogram, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, 25-OH-vitamin D3, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and the ratio of protein to creatinine in spot urine were also measured. Information, such as anamnesis, demographic information, weight, background information, presence of additional diseases, type and duration of diabetes, drugs used, smoking/alcohol use status, and microvascular/macrovascular complications, were recorded. The calcium (Ca) score was calculated using foot/ankle multislice computed tomography to assess vascular calcification.
RESULTS: The experimental cohort included 30 patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), 27 patients with diabetes but without DFUs, and 28 control group adult patients. OPG levels and lower-extremity Ca scores were significantly higher in patients with DFUs than in those without. Microvascular/macrovascular complications were higher in patients with DFUs than in patients without DFUs. There was a significant relationship between the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), drug use, CRP and OPG levels in patients with DFUs.
CONCLUSION: In this study, there was a statistically significant relationship between OPG level and age, diagnosis date, neuropathy, CAD, peripheral artery disease, white blood cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and CRP. However, there was no correlation between the Wagner classification used to evaluate disease severity, and the OPG and Ca scores.
PMID:42574330 | DOI:10.12968/jowc.2024.0143