Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: In patients with type 2 diabetes, the presence of microalbuminuria, reflecting a widespread vascular damage, can be a marker of nephropathy, retinophaty and cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To study the relationship between microalbuminuria and the frequency, severity and outcome of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus Methods: One hundred patients with type 2 diabetes were subjected to a clinical examination, and measurement of microalbuminuria by RIA. Twice a year, a fundoscopy, a color photography of the posterior pole and retinal angiofluorescence were performed. Retinopathy was classified as basal (mild to moderate), preproliferative and proliferative. Sixty-four normoalbuminuric patients (urinary albumin of less than 30 mg/24 h) were included in group 1 and 36 patients with a urinary albumin over 30 mg/24 h in group 2. Results: Sixty one percent of group 1 patients and 41% of group 2 patients has retinopathy (p < 0.05). The retinal lesions were proliferative in 41% of group 2 patients and in 8% of group 1 patient (p < 0.05). An unfavorable evolution of retinopathy was observed in 22% of group 2 patients and in 5% of group 1 patient (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In type 2 diabetic patients, the presence of microalbuminuria is a prediction of a higher frequency, severity and dismal evolution of diabetic retinopathy.
Keywords: 387 diabetes • 554 retina • 388 diabetic retinopathy