The Influences of Arteriosclerosis on the Development and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the relationship between arteriolosclerosis and diabetic retinopathy, we graded the levels of diabetic retinopathy and arteriolosclerosis and compared each other in 255 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. And we also measured serum lipid levels and checked other risk fac-tors for diabetic retinopathy. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Patients with advanced arteriolosclerosis were at higher risk of severe diabetic retinopathy. And patients with elevated plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C, TG had more severe levels of diabetic retinopathy than whose lipid levels were normal. These results suggested that advanced arteriolosclerosis and elevated serum lipid levels are associated with severe diabetic retinopathy. For preventing visual threatening complications of diabetic retinopathy, the degree of arteriolosclerosis and serum lipid levels should be carefully monitored in the evaluation of diabetic retinopathy.