Assessment of toe perfusion
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Establishing the assessment of toe perfusion in health and in those with diabetes and a low toe blood pressure.
IRAS ID
188325
Contact name
Angela Shore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Diabetic foot ulcers are the main cause of lower limb amputation in adults in the UK. Poor blood flow is the largest contributor to the development of diabetic foot ulcers. To further our understanding of the development of diabetic foot ulcers and to evaluate effectiveness of potential treatments it is crucial for us to measure blood flow in the toes and feet.
Approaches that can be used for this include visualising capillaries with microscopes, and assessing blood flow with non-harmful light based techniques. Though these techniques are widely used in hands / fingers, with considerable expertise in Exeter, they are rarely used in the feet and toes as it is more technical challenging to do so, particularly in individuals with diabetes and low blood pressure in the toes as the capillaries tend to be smaller and deeper.
The aim of this study is to establish the assessment of toe blood flow using non-invasive techniques in (1) 12 individuals without diabetes and (2) in 12 individuals with type 2 diabetes with a low toe blood pressure.
Participants will be invited to the Exeter Clinical Research Facility (CRF) for one study visit. At the start of the visit the study will be discussed with the potential participant and written informed consent will be obtained. After which a medical history will be taken and blood pressure measured on the arm, ankle and toe. Capillaries and blood flow will be non-invasively assessed before, during and after inflation of a blood pressure cuff around the base of the big toe. Blood flow and the amount of oxygen in the skin will also be non-invasively assessed before and during the supported elevation of the right leg.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0194
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion