Premium
The association between high‐sensitive c‐reactive protein and retinal hemodynamics in type 1 diabetes patients with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Author(s) -
PEMP B,
GARHOFER G,
LASTA M,
SCHMIDL D,
SCHMETTERER L
Publication year - 2010
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.1755-3768.2010.4116.x
Subject(s) - diabetic retinopathy , diabetes mellitus , medicine , retinal , retinopathy , c reactive protein , type 2 diabetes , pathogenesis , type 1 diabetes , ophthalmology , endocrinology , inflammation
Purpose There is evidence that low‐grade inflammatory processes play a role in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus. In addition, various studies have shown that retinal vascular reactivity is reduced in diabetes, whereas retinal leukocyte velocity is increased. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlations between levels of the inflammation biomarker C‐reactive protein (CRP) and measures of retinal vascular function and perfusion in type 1 diabetes patients with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods 25 type 1 diabetes patients with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy were included in this cross‐sectional study. Blood samples were collected to measure glucose, HbA1C and blood cell count. Serum CRP was determined by high sensitivity enzyme immunoassay. The reaction of retinal vessel diameters to flickering light was measured using the Retinal Vessel Analyzer. Perifoveal leucocyte blood flow was assessed using the blue‐field entoptic technique. Results Elevated CRP was found in 12 patients. There was no correlation found between white blood cell velocity or flow and CRP. Flicker‐induced vasodilatation also showed no correlation with CRP levels. However, reactivity of retinal veins was negatively correlated to HbA1C (r = ‐0.4, p = 0.049). Conclusion The results indicate that in our sample of type 1 diabetes patients with diagnosed non‐proliferative retinopathy, serum levels of CRP, a biomarker for inflammation, are not associated with perifoveal leukocyte blood flow or with retinal vessel reactivity. Further investigations are necessary in larger patient groups and with additional inflammatory markers.