First Results on Three Patients Treated with Topical Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) to Improve Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Chronic wounds not only induce individual distress but also cause enormous and rapidly growing costs for our health care systems and society in general. The fastest growing groups of chronic wounds are Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU), due to the fact that the number of diabetics is growing worldwide. The pathophysiology of DFU is complex and necessitates interventions at multiple levels. Several of these intervention levels can be addressed by topical application of recombinant human Erythropoietin hydro gel (rhEPO hydro gel). We report here the cases of 3 adult patients with controlled diabetes and DFU who were treated in a compassionate healing attempt with topical rhEPO-Hydro gel. In addition patients received state-of-the-art diabetes and DFU treatment. In all three patients complete healing of the DFU with stable long term results could be achieved. Based on these observations, rhEPO hydro gel seems to be a promising treatment option for patients with DFU. GCP conform clinical studies will be necessary to confirm these results in a larger population of patients.