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Anticardiolipin antibodies in diabetic patients: an additional risk factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic

Amany M El-Diasty1, Maha Shahin

  • 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

The Egyptian Journal of Immunology
|March 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies may increase the risk of developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), particularly in type 1 diabetes patients. These antibodies could play a role in the development of this serious complication of diabetes.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Immunology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Diabetic retinopathy (DR) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood.
  • Autoantibodies against endothelial antigens are implicated in vascular injury and endothelial dysfunction.
  • Investigating novel risk factors for DR is crucial for understanding its aetiogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies in patients with high-risk criteria proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
  • To explore the potential role of aCL antibodies in the pathogenesis of DR.
  • To assess if aCL antibodies are associated with PDR in diabetic patients.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 34 diabetic patients without DR and 36 patients with PDR and high-risk criteria (HRC).
  • Anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies (IgG and IgM) were quantified using the ELISA technique.
  • Prevalence rates were compared between patient groups and diabetes types.

Main Results:

  • A significant prevalence of aCL antibodies was observed in type 1 diabetics with PDR and HRC (27.8%).
  • A lower prevalence was found in type 2 diabetics with PDR and HRC (6.25%).
  • All patients positive for aCL antibodies presented with PDR and HRC, a statistically significant finding.

Conclusions:

  • Anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies may represent an additional risk factor for PDR.
  • aCL antibodies could link immunological and hemostatic systems in DR pathogenesis.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of aCL antibodies in diabetic retinopathy.

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