Clinical study of hepatocyte growth factor in the treatment of diabetic lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene therapy in the patients with diabetic lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans, provide theoretical support for better coordination of clinical operation and anesthesia, ensure medical safety, and improve the quality of nursing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with Grade 4–6 (Rutherford classification) and limb ischemia who met the inclusion criteria were divided into four dose groups, including three cases in the 4 mg group, six cases in the 8 mg group, five cases in the 12 mg group, and seven cases in the 16 mg group. The dosage of each group was divided into equal doses, which were injected intramuscularly on the 1st and 15th days of treatment, respectively. The dosage of each injection point was 0.25 mg/0.5 ml. Adverse reactions, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and ulcer healing were observed on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 21st, 28th, 59th, and 91st days after the treatment. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured on the 1st, 28th, 59th, and 91st days after the treatment. RESULTS: Complications, serious adverse reactions, and abnormal test results did not occur in the patients during the operation. After the operation, the pain had significantly reduced in 17 cases, the average VAS score of all cases decreased from 5.95 to 1.64 (P < 0.05), and the pain disappeared completely in four cases. The average ABI of all cases increased from 0.49 to 0.63 (P < 0.05), five cases had ulcer, and four cases had gangrene. After treatment, one case of ulcer and one case of gangrene healed completely, and three cases of ulcer and one case of gangrene improved significantly, and one case of ulcer and two cases of gangrene had no significant change. CONCLUSION: HGF gene therapy can effectively treat diabetic lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans, relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life. The smooth operation is inseparable from the cooperation of nurses, including careful preoperative visit, strict aseptic operation during the operation, follow-up visit regularly after the operation, and mastering the changes in patients' condition in the whole process to provide high-quality nursing for patients.