Abstract
We describe six cases of diabetic gangrene with special reference to the clinical pictures and to treatment involving prostaglandin E1 infusion therapy. Four of the six patients were over the age of 60, ranging overall from 41 to 74 years, and five cases were female. In five of them, the duration of diabetes was over 10 years, ranging overall from 2 to 27 years. All cases were complicated with retinopathy and neuropathy, respectively. The predisposing causes of diabetic gangrene were trauma, self-mistreatment of trauma or bulla, and poorly controlled blood sugar. In all cases, the levels of plasma β-thromboglobulin, one of the indicators of platelet function, were higher than that in the control. In two cases, there was a remarkable elevation (166 ng/ml and 244 ng/ml). Intravenous infusion of prostaglandin E1 in combination with conservative therapy, is expected to yield beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetic gangrene.
