LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS IN DIABETIC ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS WITHRETINOPATHY

Purpose: To compare serum concentrations of lipoproteins and apolipopr oteins in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with and without retinop athy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 42 diabetic ad olescents and young adults with different degrees of retinopathy, The mean +/- SD age of the patient was 21.1 years (range 12.8-27.9 years); their mean duration of diabetes was 12.3 years (range 7.1-19.9 years) . Their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and fructosamine were respe ctively 10.2% (8.215.4%) and 280.8 mu mol/l (202.1-458.5 mu mol/l). Fo rty-two diabetics without retinopathy similar to the study population as regards age, sex, duration of disease, HbA(1c) and microalbuminuria values, and 42 healthy subjects, served as controls. Results: Serum l ipid and lipoprotein concentrations were not different from those of h ealthy controls in either with or without retinopathy. The patients we re subdivided in two groups according to the degree of their retinopat hy: background and preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy, Patient s with preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy were found to have s ignificantly higher lipoprotein (a) values than the other group (backg round, 73.3 IU/l; preproliferative/proliferative, 205.9 IU/l; p < 0.00 1). Conclusion: The increase in lipoprotein (a) levels might play a ro le in the development of severe retinopathy.