IGF-1 Increases with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Promotes Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Objectives . To investigate insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) levels in response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for diabetic foot ulcers and to determine whether IGF-1 is a predictive indicator of wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Design and Methods . We treated 48 consecutive patients with diabetic foot ulcers with HBOT. Alterations of IGF-1 levels in patients whose wound healed with HBOT were compared with those in patients who did not benefit from HBOT. Results . There was no significant difference in initial IGF-1 levels between the two groups ( P = 0.399). The mean IGF-1 level increased with HBOT ( P < 0.05). In the healed group, the mean IGF-1 increase and the final values were significantly higher ( P < 0.05). In the nonhealed group, the mean IGF-1 increase was minus and the final values were not significantly different ( P < 0.05). The increase in IGF-1 level with HBOT was significantly higher in the healed group ( P < 0.001). Conclusions . IGF-1 increased significantly in the healed group. We believe that HBOT is effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, with an elevation of IGF-1. This alteration seems to be a predictive factor for wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers treated with HBOT.