Could Skin Autofluorescence Emerge As A New Tool For DFU?

Continued efforts to create companion diagnostics and theragnostics to help us measure what we manage and predict DFU risk are highlighted in this recent study.¹ Imagine diagnosing “friable” tissue, and then doing something about it! 

These authors evaluated skin autofluorescence (SAF) when used for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which is a modality previously discussed as an option to assess tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end-products in diabetes and its related complications.¹ Reviewing PubMed, Medline and other databases, the researchers included studies that compared SAF levels in patients with DFU versus those without. Five studies with 611 total participants were included, showing that patients with DFU exhibited significantly higher levels of SAF, and that this level was independently associated with increased DFU risk. Overall, the authors propose that SAF could prove to be a useful non-invasive option to determine risk for DFU, however, they do note that further study is necessary to ascertain its usefulness as a diagnostic or prognostic tool.¹

The ability to be able to identify skin at risk earlier is really promising. If we can identify people whose skin is bound to be more like a cracker and less like a tortilla (if you will), we may be able to work upstream to reduce long-term complications that leads to this type of soft tissue glycation (ie better glucose control and better lipid/cardiometabolic control).

Dr. Armstrong is Professor of Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is the Director of the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA). 

Editor’s note: This blog originally appeared at: https://diabeticfootonline.com/2021/10/25/skin-autofluorescence-for-non-enzymatic-glycation-end-products-in-diabetic-foot-ulcers-dfus-a-meta-analysis/ . It is adapted with permission from the author.

Reference

1. Varikasuvu SR, Varshney S, Sulekar H. Skin Autofluorescence as a Novel and Noninvasive Technology for Advanced Glycation End Products in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2021;34(11):1-8.