title: The metabolism of the diabetic foot: in vivo investigation with microdialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many amputations might be delayed or prevented by more effective clinical supervision of the diabetic foot ulcer. The aim of this study was to measure the local metabolism on the edge of a diabetic ulcer and compare it to healthy subcutaneous tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 5 non-fasting diabetic patients, we inserted a microdialysis catheter into the edge of a diabetic ulcer and a reference catheter into healthy abdominal subcutaneous tissue, and recorded the local concentrations of glucose, lactate and glycerol during rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of glucose in the ulcers were 7.8 mM (SEM 1.9) and in the reference tissue 10.6 mM (SEM 1.8) (p = 0.4). The concentrations of lactate were 2.9 mM (SEM 0.7) and 2.1 mM (SEM 0.7) (p = 0.2), while those of glycerol were 290 microM (SEM 84) vs 98 microM (SEM 7.2) (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that microdialysis can detect differences in dialysate concentrations of metabolites in diabetic ulcers and a reference tissue, providing valuable information concerning metabolites in the diabetic foot ulcer. Future studies should combine the technique with measurements of local blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Clinical Research, Aarhus University Hospitals section Skejby Hospital, Brenstrupgaardsvej, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. lbstolle@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lars B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Stolle
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riegels-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000378:metabolism*; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol