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Dynamic retinal vessel reaction in diabetes type I
Author(s) -
SITNIKOVA D,
KOTLIAR K,
LANZL I,
SIGMUND T,
HALLE M,
SCHMIDTTRUCKSÄSS A
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.576.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retinal , diabetes mellitus , cardiology , stimulation , ophthalmology , constriction , dilation (metric space) , pupillary response , stimulus (psychology) , type 2 diabetes , retina , endocrinology , pupil , biology , psychology , mathematics , combinatorics , neuroscience , psychotherapist
Purpose Exposure of the retina to flickering light induces retinal vessel dilation in healthy subjects. Diabetes and related vascular disorders are able to change vascular endothelial function. Whether the dynamic reaction to luminance flicker stimulation in retinal branch arteries and veins differs between healthy volunteers and patients suffering from diabetes type I is investigated. Methods 35 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type I (age (mean±SD) 50,9 ± 8,6 years old) and in 35 age and gender matched medically healthy volunteers were examined. Vessel diameters of retinal vessel segments were assessed by Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA). After baseline measurement (50 s) monochromatic rectangular flicker stimulation (530‐600 nm, 12,5 Hz, 20 s) was applied 3 consecutive times. Results In most subjects fast vessel dilation compared to baseline and an ensuing reactive arterial constriction were observed. In detail we found: diabetescontrol mean maximal arterial dilation,[%]:...2,3±1,8**...4,1±2,5 time of max. arterial dilation during the stimulation,[s]:....19,3±10,9*...14,2±3,4 mean maximal venous dilation,[%]:....3,4±1,8*...4,7±1,8 There were statistically significant differences between the two examined groups as marked with *(p<0,05), **(p<0,01) (T‐test). Conclusion Functional retinal arterial and venous reaction to flicker stimulation differs high significantly between diabetes type I patients and healthy subjects of the same age and gender. Maximal dilation as a response to the stimulus is not reached. These findings might be an indication for alterations in the vascular endothelium and vessel wall rigidity in diabetes, leading to impaired regulation following metabolic demand.