Adjunctive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy for diabetic foot infections.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of diabetic foot infections in non-neutropenic patients.


METHODS
Clinical literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1965-April 2004). Key search terms included G-CSF, infection, and diabetes. In addition, relevant references from primary and secondary article bibliographies were extracted.


RESULTS
Three clinical trials evaluating G-CSF for diabetic foot infections were identified. These data demonstrated positive effects of G-CSF on improvement of foot infections and risk of amputations.


CONCLUSIONS
Controlled trials are necessary to validate the role of adjunctive G-CSF at reducing amputations in patients with diabetic foot infections.
Reed
Kelly S
KS
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA.
Pai
Manjunath P
MP
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor