Bacteriological profile of diabetic foot ulcers and analysis of serum meteorin levels.

Objective: With the increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in recent years, diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which are common and serious chronic complications of diabetes, have also become widespread. DFU is highly associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Meteorin is a potent neurotrophic growth factor and shows antiangiogenic, antihyperalgesic, antinociceptive and neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to determine the possible relationship between meteorin, diabetes and diabetic foot ulcer by comparing the serum meteorin levels of healthy control group, DM patients and patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Methods: Our study included a total of 62 diabetic patients, 31 of whom had DFU, and 29 healthy individuals as a control group. Meteorin levels of the participants were measured using ELISA method in serum samples. Other laboratory and epidemiological data of the patients were obtained from the hospital database.

Results: In the wound cultures taken from patients with DFU, the most commonly isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Serum meteorin levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in diabetic patients as compared to the healthy control group, and among diabetic patients, those with DFU had significantly higher levels compared to those without DFU. A positive significant correlation was found between meteorin level and age, HbA1c, WBC, urea, sedimentation, CRP and ferritin.

Conclusion: The results of our study, aimed at better understanding the biological functions and potential clinical applications of meteorin, suggest that meteorin could potentially be used as a biomarker for the development of DFU.