Method for diagnosing non-healing ulcers

摘要

The present invention provides methods for the diagnosis of non- healing ulcers in humans. Provided are methods for detecting the presence of non-healing ulcers by assaying for certain cell adhesion- related proteins or their degradation products in ulcer exudate. The methods of the present invention are useful as an initial, quick and inexpensive screening process for a condition which is often misdiagnosed. It has been discovered that in non-healing ulcers there appear to be proteases which degrade cell adhesion-related proteins, e.g., fibronectin and vitronectin. Protein separation techniques, such as electrophoresis, may be used in combination with immunoassay techniques to isolate and identify these degradation products, as well as the cell adhesion-related proteins themselves.