Abstract
Purpose To investigate the role of oxidative stress in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Methods This study included 25 patients with diabetic retinopathy (group 1), 34 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus without any angiopathy complications (group II) and 26 healthy subjects (group III). The serum malondialdehyde (MDA)-like metabolite levels as an index of lipid peroxidation, the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum vitamin C levels of the patients and healthy subjects were measured.
Results The mean serum concentration of MDA-like metabolites of patients in group I was 4.38 ± 1.31 nmol/ml, in group II was 3.38 ± 0.95 nmol/ml and in group III was 2.61 ± 0.85 nmol/ml. There were significant differences between the groups (p = 0.001 for group I compared with group II, p = 0.0001 for group I compared with group III and p = 0.002 for group II compared with group III). There was a significant correlation between the serum lipid peroxidation concentrations and duration of the disease (r = 0.36, p = 0.047). The mean erythrocyte GSH-Px and SOD levels of group I were respectively 68.97 ± 18.04 and 1597.78 ± 296.46 U/g Hb, of group II were 64.30 ±19.26 and 1581.33 ± 278.08 U/g Hb, and of group III were 65.52 ± 17.58 and 1587.44 ± 281.17 U/g Hb. There were no significant differences among the antioxidant enzyme levels in the three groups (p > 0.05). The mean serum vitamin C level in group I was 42.72 ± 8.90 μmol/l, in group II was 49.26 ± 11.52 μmol/l and in group III was 58.57 ± 9.75 μmol/l. There were significant differences among the mean serum vitamin C levels of the three groups (p = 0.02 for group I versus group II p = 0.001 for group I versus group III and p = 0.002 for group II versus group III).
Conclusions Free radicals forming in diabetes mellitus and increasing over time may play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy, which is an important complication of the disease.
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Gürler, B., Vural, H., Yilmaz, N. et al. The role of oxidative stress in diabetic retinopathy. Eye 14, 730–735 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2000.193
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