An Evaluation of the association between High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels and functionality with the rate of wound healing in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

This study recruited diabetics (n=30) and non-diabetics (n=11) with minor amputations for the purpose of collecting blood samples; to identify the association between circulating HDL cholesterol functionality and the rate of wound healing in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. HDL functionality was tested in a series of ex vivo assays established in our laboratory at recruitment (baseline), 1-month and 6-months post-amputation. The parameters tested were HDL cholesterol efflux, anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties.