[Long-term ophthalmologic follow-up of diabetic children]

Sixty-four infant diabetics were kept under observation for an average of 6.1 years to obtain ophthalmologic and endocrinologic data (biomicroscopic fundus examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography; blood sugar level, HbA1c determination, ketoacidosis, microalbuminuria, HLA-DR typing). In 28 patients (44%, Group B) retinal vascular changes corresponding to the picture of diabetic preretinopathy were detected by fluorescein angiography. In 36 children (56%, Group A), the retinal vascular system was normal. In 16 patients vascular anomalies increased during the observation period, while in 12 patients no further changes were seen. On comparing the endocrinologic findings in the two groups, the only statistically significant difference was in the ketoacidosis values. A tendency to hypoglycemic attacks, as well as elevated HbA1c and microalbuminuria levels, was likewise more frequent in Group B. Aside from the typical distribution, HLA-DR typing revealed a considerable percentage of children with 1/4 localization in Group B only. It was not seen in any patient in Group A. These results give rise to the hope that HLA-DR typing will enable prognostic conclusions to be drawn concerning the time of onset and progression of diabetic retinal alterations in the future.