[Retinal vessel diameter variation analysis in diabetic patients].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Diabetology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss in diabetic patients.
• Retinal vascular changes are key indicators of DR progression.
• Understanding factors influencing these changes is crucial for early detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) stage and retinal vascular dimensions.
• To identify key factors influencing retinal artery and vein diameter in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 155 type 2 diabetes patients, categorized into non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and DR groups.
• Fundus photography was used to measure retinal arteriole and venule diameters.
• Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess correlations between vascular diameter and DR stage, diabetes duration, hypertension, and age.

Main Results:

• Retinal vein diameter was significantly larger in the DR group compared to the NDR group and positively correlated with DR stage and diabetes duration.
• Retinal artery diameter showed a negative correlation with DR stage, diabetes duration, and hypertension duration.
• DR stage and age were significant predictors of retinal artery diameter, while DR stage was a significant predictor of retinal vein diameter.

Conclusions:

• Retinal vein diameter increases, and retinal artery diameter decreases with the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy.
• Diabetes duration and hypertension duration were not found to be significantly related to retinal vascular diameters in this study.
• These findings highlight DR stage as a critical determinant of retinal vascular remodeling in diabetes.