This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between diabetes autoantibodies and the development of early diabetic retinopathy (DR) to assess the role of autoimmunity in retinopathy. The study included 18 boys and 44 girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with median age of 15.6 years (range 10.08 to 20.88 years). In addition to the 62 participants, the study included 32 healthy controls that were age and sex matched. Best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 for all. Mean foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was found to be greater in DM than controls (0.303 ±0.05 vs 0.270 ±0.03). Mean parafoveal vascular density (PVD) was lower in DM than controls (52.9 ±2.7 vs 54.6 ±1.2). Mean HbA1c levels were significantly correlated with FAZ and PVD and also with mean diabetes duration. There was no significant correlation for serum diabetes autoantibodies and FAZ or PVD. The authors conclude, for their cohort, there was no significant association between serum diabetes autoantibodies ad the development of early DR in children with type 1 DM. Duration of DM and poor glycaemic control were found to be strong predictors of the future development of DR. Missed insulin injections, lack of regular exercise and poor compliance with diet added to the risk of developing microvascular complications. They acknowledge limitations of a single centre study, small sample size, post-hoc analysis and exclusion of patients using insulin infusion pumps.
Evaluation of the association between diabetes autoantibodies and development of early diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
The relationship of serum Diabetes antibodies with the development of early diabetic retinopathy findings in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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