title: Is there any difference in tetanus IgG levels of diabetic patientswith respect to the presence of foot ulcers?
abstract: The aim of this study was to reveal the tetanus immunization status of diabetic patients and to determine whether diabetic patients with foot ulcers have different TIG levels.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was designed that included diabetic patients with foot ulcers (n = 30) and diabetic patients without ulcers (n = 30). The groups were compared for serum TIG levels along with total serum protein, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total immunoglobulin G (Ig G).
  
  
  
  For diabetic patients without foot ulcers, 17 of 30 (56.6%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels whereas for diabetic patients with foot ulcers, 28 of 30 (93.3%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels. The mean value of TIG for diabetic patients without foot ulcers was 0.345 ± 0.281 IU/mL and for diabetic patients with foot ulcers the mean TIG value was 0.055 ± 0.033 IU/mL. Statistically significant differences were observed in TIG (P = 0.008), total protein (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.001), and CRP levels (P < 0.001) between the two groups.
  
  
  
  The majority of the diabetic patients had low TIG levels and they were significantly lower in diabetic patients with ulcers. A booster dose of tetanus vaccine should be considered for diabetic patients with and without diabetic foot ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sürmeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Çizmeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Muş State Hospital, Muş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ergin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ömer Faruk
authors.initials: ÖF
authors.lastname: Taner
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derun Taner
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ertuğrul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G