Leucocyte responsiveness to corticosteroids in diabetic retinopathy

The in vitro response of white blood cells of maturity onset diabetics to corticosteroids was the subject of these experiments; the response was assessed with the leucocyte migration inhibition assay. Leucocytes from patients with nonproliferative retinopathy demonstrated increased responsiveness to corticosteroids in comparison with the white cell response of both controls and patients with proliferative retinopathy. Similarly leucocyte migration inhibition was greater in the insulin independent than in insulin dependent diabetics. Furthermore leucocyte migration responsiveness may be related to duration of the diabetic state. This preliminary study points to the possible importance of corticosteroids and their receptors in retinopathy and angiopathy.