Laser Therapy for Onychomycosis in Patients Wih Diabetes at Risk for Diabetic Foot Complications

Overview

In a sham controlled double-blind trial we aim to establish the efficacy and safety of local application of laser therapy in patients with diabetes with onychomycosis and risk factors for diabetes related foot complications. Onychomycosis leads to thickened and distorted nails, which in turn leads to increased local pressure. The combination of onychomycosis and neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) increases the risk of developing diabetes related foot complications. Usual care for high-risk patients with diabetes and onychomycosis is completely symptomatic with frequent skiving and clipping of the nails. No effective curative local therapies exist and systemic agents are often withheld due to concerns for side effects and interactions. Aim: The primary aim is to evaluate the efficacy of 4 sessions N-YAG 1064nM laser application on the one-year clinical and microbiological cure rate in a randomised, double-blinded sham-controlled design with blinded outcome assessment. Study population: Patients with diabetes mellitus, with an increased risk for diabetic foot ulcers. Intervention: local laser treatment from a podiatrist and the other group receives treatment according to a control procedure. The laser procedure will be performed as a sham procedure by a second podiatrist. Main study parameters/endpoints: The effect of 4 sessions of laser therapy on cure rate (clinical and microbiological) after one year.

Setting of the study: Hospital, outpatient departments (Foot clinic, Isala, Zwolle) Inclusion criteria: Patients with clinical suspicion and microbiologic confirmation of onychomycosis , diagnosis of T1DM or T2DM, 18 years or older, at risk for diabetic foot ulcers defined by a modified Simm's classification score 1 or 2 with either neuropathy or PAD, nail involvement of at least 25% of the target nail. Exclusion criteria: no microbiologic confirmation, Simms' classification score 3, the presence or history of diabetic foot ulcers, ischemic pain, ankle brachial index \< 0.9, patients receiving dialysis, severe renal insufficiently (eGFR below 30 ml/min), a documented toe pressure below 50 mmHg, use of systemic or topical antifungal agents 3 months prior to inclusion, use of immunosuppressive drugs, presence of psoriasis, lichen planus, or other abnormalities that could result in clinically abnormal toenails, a history of epilepsy and insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language. Patients with a dark skin color (Fitzpatrick 4 and 5) are excluded since dark skin color is associated with dark nails, which theoretically leads to increased temperatures during laser application