title: Beta-hexosaminidase activities in tears and plasma, diphosphoglycerate in blood of diabetic patients.
abstract: In a study on 10 normal controls, 7 pregnant women and 16 diabetic patients, beta-hexosaminidase in tears and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in blood were investigated for possible use as index for diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy. Tears were used as source for beta-hexosaminidase because the concentration in plasma and the isoenzyme pattern are affected by the occurrence of a placentar isoenzyme in pregnancy. It has been found that in diabetes the concentration of beta-hexosaminidase in plasma may be elevated, but that it remains unchanged in tears and that there is no correlation between the plasma and tear values in all individuals. Neither beta-hexosaminidase in tears nor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in blood appears as indicator for the onset or development of diabetic retinopathy.
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D006596:Hexosaminidases