Efficacy of a Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin (Bemiparin) in the Treatment of Chronic Foot Ulcers in Diabetic Patients

November 13, 2006 updated by: Spanish National Health System

Triple-Blind Clinical Trial With Placebo Control to Evaluate the Efficacy of a Heparin of Low Molecular Weight (Bemiparin) for Treating Slow-Responding Ulcers in Diabetic Foot in Primary Care

To assess the efficacy of bemiparin (low molecular weight heparin) for 3 months in the treatment of chronic foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The involvement of microcirculation in diabetes microangiopathy may be the cause of ulceration and severe incapacitation. Torpid ulcers of the lower limbs affect up to 15% of diabetic patients at some moment of their lifetime; about one-third of patients developing ulcers will never achieve their definitive cure, and half of them will die within three years .

Heparins, besides their well known antithrombotic effects, have been shown to stimulate both the synthesis of heparan sulphate -a potent endogenous anticoagulant- in endothelial cell cultures and the proliferation of fibroblasts taken from diabetic ulcers .

After noticing the highly positive evolution of chronic ulcers in six diabetic patients who had received LMWHs in their homes for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis , and considering the excellent safety record of these drugs, we decided to explore the effects of LMWHs on the evolution of diabetic foot ulcers and the quality of life of diabetic patients seen in our primary care practices.

Comparison: bemiparin vs placebo

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

84

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age over 18 years;
  • type I or II diabetes mellitus diagnosed (ADA 1998) for more than 3 years;
  • presence of at least one cutaneous ulcer distal to the knee, not involving deep tissues (stages I and II of Wagner's classification ) and existing for at least three months;
  • giving their written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • hypersensibility to heparin or pig derivatives
  • body weight lower than 35 kg
  • presence of clinical signs of infection that did not resolve in spite of oral antibiotics;
  • anticoagulant therapy;
  • severe impairment of renal or hepatic function;
  • bleeding disorder;
  • active peptic ulcer;
  • arterial hypertension with poor control;
  • pregnancy or lactation;
  • terminal illness or a prognosis of survival under three months.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Ulcer area
Stage in Wagner's classification

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Quality of life
Adverse effects

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Manuel Rullan, MD, Primary health care of Mallorca. Ibsalut.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2001

Study Completion

April 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 13, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 13, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

November 14, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 14, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 13, 2006

Last Verified

November 1, 2006

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Diabetic Angiopathies

Clinical Trials on bemiparin (low molecular weight heparin)

3
Subscribe