OBJECTIVE -To assess the relevance of pulse pressure as a predictor of foot ulcers in type 2 diabetic subjects.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -A cohort study was performed on a consecutive series of 1,945 type 2 diabetic outpatients without a foot ulcer at baseline. Incident foot ulcers were identified through the regional hospital discharge system, which contains ICD codes of current diagnoses.RESULTS -During a follow-up of mean Ϯ SD 4.2 Ϯ 2.2 years, 86 ulcers were observed. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartiles of pulse pressure had a 2.39-fold (95% CI 1.14 -5.02) risk of foot ulcers. When ischemic ulcers were considered separately, the highest pulse pressure quartile was associated with an increased age-and sex-adjusted risk (2.08 [95% CI 1.02-4.24]), whereas no increase of risk was observed for neuropathic ulcers.CONCLUSIONS -Elevated pulse pressure represents an independent predictor of foot ulcers in diabetic patients; this parameter should be considered for the stratification of risk of ischemic or neuroischemic ulcers.

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autologous skin cell grafts are feasible, well tolerated, and apparently effective in the treatment of diabetic ulcers of the lower limbs in advanced age. Age did not seem to moderate healing times.