Abstract
Purpose :
We hypothesized that exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) increases the risk for early diabetic retinopathy (DR) and that the risk can be modulated.
Methods :
116 early DR cases were identified, and 116 non-DR controls were selected randomly by frequency matching for age, sex, race, and education from the US Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. DR was assessed using non-mydriatic fundus photographs and graded by trained graders using the Modified Airlie House Classification scheme and the Early Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Study severity scale. Serum P. g. immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody (Ab) was measured in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units. Logistic regression was used to relate serum P. g. IgG Ab levels to the risk for early DR.
Results :
Per tenfold increase in P. g. IgG Ab levels, there was an over 60% increased risk for early DR (odds ratio=1.64; 95% confident interval: 1.36 – 1.97) and a linear trend was noted for the estimated probabilities of early DR at various P. g. IgG Ab levels (p for trend=0.0053). The analysis also suggested that moderate alcohol consumption (less than 12 drinks in the past 12 months; p for interaction=0.0003) and maintaining a normal serum glycated hemoglobulin level (HbA1c≤5.7 %; p for interaction<0.0001) helped reduce the P. g.-related DR risk.
Conclusions :
The increased P. g.-related DR risk could be alleviated by managing alcohol consumption and maintaining a normal blood glucose level. Findings from this study provide new directions for developing novel therapeutics and prevention strategies for DR.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.