A groundbreaking clinical trial is underway at Charles Sturt University (CSU) into a skin patch drug treatment for people with circulation problems to their feet.

 

A clinical educator with the School of Community Health at CSU in Albury-Wodonga has seen positive early results from her investigation into the impact of angina patch medication for people with poor circulation to their feet. This includes people with diabetes.

 

Ms Sylvia McAra recently returned from China after being invited to present her research data to an international audience at the World Diabetes Congress 2012 held in Beijing in June.

 

“Many papers presented were at the cutting edge of diabetes research, including pancreas cell transplantation and new drug development,” Ms McAra said. “My paper was well received and provoked interesting discussion.”

 

Through her work in the University’s Allied Health Clinic in Albury, Ms McAra wants to determine if angina patch medication normally prescribed to improve flow in blood vessels for cardiac patients can help people with poor circulation to their feet.

“There is evidence to suggest that this patch treatment may be useful for many people by improving circulation to their feet and possibly also reducing pain and nerve damage associated with diabetes,” she said.

 

“Reduced circulation to feet can be associated with problems such as foot ulcers, infection and even amputations.”

 

About 100 volunteers, drawn from the local community with the permission of their medical practitioners, will ultimately participate in the study by the middle of 2013.

 

“The local Albury-Wodonga Diabetes Support Group got behind my project and sent recruitment invitations to 500 members. This resulted in a terrific response. The phone ran hot for three days and we currently have a waiting list of people to contact as a place becomes available for them in the study.

 

“A small dose patch of the angina medication is placed on one foot. The volunteers are then monitored over six months, including its effects on circulation, nerve function, wound healing and on foot pain. The dose of the patches is crucial to the success of the treatment.

 

“Recommendations must necessarily await the final study outcomes. However, the first result trends are positive. Despite the variability in the measurements of blood pressure to the toes, the treatment effect appears to be significant at this early stage.

 

“Further data will be collected through next year. This will give some answers to the questions of who can benefit from this treatment and the ideal ways to use patch medication to improve circulation to feet.

 

“My hope is that the study will help understanding in this important area and lead to improved treatment options for people with circulation problems affecting their feet. This may help to reduce the number of foot problems in people with diabetes,” Ms McAra said.