Project to design and evaluate a biomarker predictive of foot ulceration risk for a population of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy of the limbs
Background
- Neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes. It is estimated that 50% of diabetic patients develop neuropathy after 25 years of diabetes.
- 15% of diabetics develop foot ulcers during their lifetime (0.5 to 3% annual incidence) due to the insensitivity caused by this neuropathy.
- 85% of amputations performed on diabetic patients are due to foot wounds.
- As the patient progresses through neuropathy, their biomechanical and structural characteristics will deteriorate over time.
- The discovery of the patient's neuropathy or diabetes may occur through the wound; that is, too late.
Project objectives
- Conduct an applied theoretical exploration to evaluate the hypothesis that a biomarker can take into account several morphological and functional variables at once, and can establish a standard for risk in order to better describe the onset of wound risk in diabetic neuropathic subjects.
- Assess the evolution of morphological and functional variables in the progression of neuropathy according to the different grades that characterize it.
Patient benefits
It is now essential to identify both morphological and functional data in order to highlight the risk of the patient reaching a critical situation, i.e., progression from grade 2 to grade 3.
Furthermore, despite the presence of risk factors, some patients will not necessarily develop wounds: a biomarker that takes into account several morphological and functional variables will enable a standard to be established for assessing risk.The aim of this project is to be able to offer a simple means of assessing neuropathy and the associated risk of wounds in general practice, using routine clinical tools.
A multidimensional score that takes into account several qualitative and quantitative morphological and functional variables could enable risk prediction and thus generate healthcare savings in response to this public health challenge.
Duration of the study
- 2 years
Overall budget
€45,000
Project leaders
Jérôme Haddad: MSc Podiatrist – Podiatrist at the Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital
Pierre-Yves Rohan: Assistant Professor – Senior Lecturer at the Georges Charpak Institute of Human Biomechanics
Dr. Georges Ha Van Hospital Practitioner: Podiatry in Diabetology at AP-HP, Public Assistance
Antoine Perrier: Podiatrist DE – Biomechanical Engineer, PhD
Prof. Agnès Hartemann: Head of the Diabetes and Metabolism Department at the Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital
