Impaired RBC deformability is associated with diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Hematology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Red blood cell (RBC) deformability is crucial for microcirculation and is impaired in type 2 diabetes (T2D).
• The relationship between RBC deformability and specific diabetic complications remains underexplored in T2D patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between RBC deformability and the prevalence of diabetic complications in individuals with T2D.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 373 T2D patients.
• RBC deformability was quantified using a microfluidic ektacytometer, measuring the elongation index at 3Pa (EI@3Pa).

Main Results:

• Lower EI@3Pa quartiles correlated with higher HbA1c, triglycerides, and increased prevalence of diabetic retinopathy.
• Patients with retinopathy exhibited significantly lower EI@3Pa compared to those without (30.53±1.95 vs 31.20±1.53, P=0.001).
• The lowest EI@3Pa quartile showed a 2.81-fold increased odds of retinopathy after adjusting for multiple risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Reduced RBC deformability, specifically lower EI@3Pa, is significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy in T2D.
• These findings suggest that impaired RBC deformability may contribute to the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in diabetes.