DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY - RELATIONSHIP WITH NEPHROPATHY IN PEDIATRIC AGE

In order to evaluate the relationship between diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy we studied 55 (25 females, 30 males) retinopathi c diabetic children and adolescents: their age ranged from 9.0 to 17.3 (mean +/-SD 13.9 + 3.8) years and the duration of disease from 4.8 to 10.0 (6.9 +/- 3.1) years. The mean glycosilated haemoglobin (HbA1c) w as 10.4 + 2.7%. Patient distribution in relation to retinal grading sh owed that the greatest number of patients (34: 61.82%) were in 14-20 r etinopathy level (with minimal signs of retinopathy), 9 patients showe d 31 retinopathy level (16.36%) and 12 (21.82%) were in the other clas ses. Comparison between retinal grading of retinopathy and presence/ab sence of microalbuminuria showed a significant difference between the evaluated sub-groups (p < 0.0001). In fact, only 6 patients out of 34 (17.64 %) in class 14-20 retinopathy level, 8 patients out of 16 (50%) in 31-41 retinopathy level and 5 patients out of 5 (100%) in 51 retin opathy level had microalbuminuria. Our study shows that the presence o f persistent microalbuminuria is an important risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. In conclusion, we suggest that when diabetic children ha ve persistent microalbuminuria, the eye should be carefully examined, in order to prevent a deterioration of the eye function.