A 3-19-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY ON DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED IN CHILDHOOD AND TREATED WITH CONVENTIONAL THERAPY

Few data are available from follow-up studies on diabetic retinopathy in patients diagnosed with insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes mellitu s in childhood and treated with conventional therapy. We report the re sults of conventional insulin therapy on development of diabetic retin opathy in 100 children and adolescents (47 females and 53 males), aged 8.3 +/- 3.5 (1.2-16.4) years at diagnosis of disease. Oral or intrave nous fluorescein angiography was performed during a 3-19 year follow-u p in all patients. Retinopathy was staged according to the criteria of the Italian Society of Diabetology (SID). During follow-up, retinopat hy was observed in 28 patients (28 %). At the end of follow-up, retino pathy was present in 23 patients and had disappeared in 5. Life-table analysis showed a median disease-free interval of 10.8 years. At 10 ye ars from diagnosis the percentage of patients free of retinopathy was 66 %. Poor metabolic control, age, and degree of pubertal development at diagnosis were the most important risk factors. (C) 1997 by John Wi ley & Sons, Ltd.