Photodynamic Therapy With RLP068 and 630-nm Red LED Light in Foot Ulcers in Patients With Diabetes: A Case Series

The management and healing of lower extremity ulcers have always been a complex health problem because the clinical course is typically chronic, the results are often poor, and the socioeconomic impact is considerable. The healing process of foot ulcers of people with diabetes is further hindered by the concomitant presence of obstructive arterial disease, neuropathy, and foot malformation. It is frequently associated with multiresistant infections and often results in micro/macro amputations. Photodynamic therapy employs a photosensitizer activated by light of a specific wavelength able to generate reactive oxygen species, which initiate further oxidative responses locally with components of the bacteria. The experience of the treatment center for the lower extremity ulcers in 17 persons with diabetes in Acerra (Italy) with photoactivated RLP068, reported here, corroborates the results of the clinical trials and of the previous case reports. In all cases, examined photodynamic therapy with photosensitizer RLP068 and red light at 630 nm was found to reduce lesion area and inflammation and to ensure the decrease of bacterial load, hence reducing treatment times and antibiotics use, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the incidence of amputations. The simultaneous combination of photodynamic therapy with other ancillary physical-based treatments such as therapeutic magnetic resonance or Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation was observed to be safe, time-saving, and able to lead to faster healing.