Pr. Aroca et al., Study of the relationship between microalbuminuria and diabetes retinopathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus, REV CLIN ES, 200(7), 2000, pp. 351-354
Prospective studies focusing on the relationship between diabetic retinopat
hy and the presence of microalbuminuria are lacking. The objective of the p
resent study was to determine the potential relationship between both forms
of diabetic microangiopathy by means of a five-year long prospective study
in which 104 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and with no retinal in
volvement at the beginning of the study were included. At the end of the st
udy four groups of patients emerged: group 1, made up of 63 patients withou
t both retinal involvement and microalbuminuria; group 2, made up of 17 pat
ients with both retinopathy and microalbuminuria; group 3, with 16 patients
with retinopathy but without microalbuminuria, and group 4, with eight pat
ients with microalbuminuria only. In the statistical study, a direct signif
icance was observed for both increased levels of HbA1c and total cholestero
l; and a reverse significance for increased levels of HDL-cholesterol as we
ll as the presence of diastolic arterial hypertension, for group 2 (patient
s with both retinopathy and microalbuminuria). For group 3, increased level
s of triglycerides and evolution time (patients with retinopathy but withou
t microalbuminuria) were significant. In the present study we conclude that
microalbuminuria is not a good marker for diabetic microangiopathy defined
as renal and retinal involvement, although its presence prompt us to watch
more frequently the ocular fundus in diabetic patients.