Fluorescein angiography in persons with slightly abnormal glucose tolerances

Retinal fluorescein angiography was performed in 54 borderline diabetics and 23 normoglycemic controls. In 24 subjects of the borderline diabetics and 18 of the controls hemoglobin AIc, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum lipoproteins and urinary excretion of 9 plasma proteins were measured. In 50% of the borderline diabetics fluorescein angiographic dots were disclosed contrary to 25% in the controls. These findings did correlate with a hereditary pre-disposition to diabetes, but not with age and smoking habits. In the borderline diabetic group 41% had increased levels of hemoglobin AIc (greater than or equal to 6.5%) and serum cholesterol (greater than or equal to 8 mmol/l). No correlation between fluoresceinangiographic abnormalities and increased concentrations of hemoglobin AIc and serum cholesterol was present. These results are discussed with reference to previous reports of retinopathy in subjects with and without impaired glucose tolerance test and newly diagnosed overt diabetes. Subtle retinal microvascular abnormalities demonstrated by fluorescein angiography may be present in persons with moderate impaired glucose tolerance. However, the variations of the retinal fluorescein angiogram of normal individuals are at the present inadequately studied.