Autologous Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Limb Salvage in Diabetic Foot Patients With No-option Critical Limb Ischemia

This is an interventional study with historical control group carried out to assess as primary outcome major amputations, overall mortality, number of healed patients in group of patients who received repetitive intra-muscular implant of PBMNCs (3 times; 4-week interval) in comparison to a historical internal control group with a 1:1 case-control ratio. Secondary outcomes are TCPO2, healing time and rest pain.

No-option critical limb ischaemia is defined by evidence of no run-off pedal vessels, failure after several percutaneous intervention and no longer possible re-intervention, failure after infra-genicular bypass grafting, no-walking capacity with severe comorbidities unfit for surgical or endovascular procedures.

Inclusion criteria are: a) ulcers with inadequate perfusion, as indicated by a transcutaneous oxygen pressure value (TcpO2) <30 mmHg; b) ulcers with grade I or II or III and stage C as defined by the Texas University Classification System or W1,2,3 - I 3 - FI 0,1 as defined by the WiFI Classification System c) not eligible for angioplasty or vascular surgery or following failed revascularization; d) possibility to save foot support.

Exclusion criteria are: a) lesion site above the tibial-tarsal joint; b) moderate or severe infection according by the WiFI classification system; c) NYHA class IV; d) Anemia (Hb<8g/dl); e) coagulation disorder/thrombocytopenia (PLT< 50,000 per microliter); f) active cancer/leukemia or lymphoma hematological disease.

Standard of care in both groups includes: diabetes control maximization by the diabetologist, comprehensive foot assessment by the nurse together with the diabetologist, including determination of vibration perception threshold, 10-g monofilament test and TcpO2 measurement, dressings, off-loading and systemic therapy according to the IWGDF guidelines .