title: Levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the Charcot foot: a pilot study.
abstract: The pathogenesis of Charcot neuroarthropathy is unclear. To investigate the possibility that decreased levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and endothelial nitric oxide synthase are involved in the process, we studied bone samples from healthy subjects (n = 4), subjects with diabetic neuropathy (n = 4), and subjects with Charcot neuroarthropathy (n = 4). A statistically significant difference was found in endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression between bone specimens in patients with diabetic neuropathy, Charcot neuroarthropathy, and normal bone (P = .008). A trend toward calcitonin gene-related peptide intensification was observed in normal bone as compared to diabetic neuropathy and Charcot neuroarthropathy bone specimens, but it did not reached statistical significance (P = .23). This pilot study suggests that abnormal calcitonin gene-related peptide and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity may play a role in the development of Charcot neuroarthropathy.
  
  
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authors: Podiatry Division, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. lafontaine@uthscsa.edu
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: La Fontaine
authors: Lawrence B
authors: LB
authors: Harkless
authors: Victor L
authors: VL
authors: Sylvia
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Carnes
authors: Josefine
authors: J
authors: Heim-Hall
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Jude
mesh_terms: D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005529:Foot Bones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide