title: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy and diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: This pilot project suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have an effect on delaying or reversing diabetic retinopathy. One patient who had Grade 5 (preproliferative) retinopathy improved to Grade 2 (microaneurysms only) after two years of treatment. Of the 450 patients followed in our eye and kidney clinic, no other patient showed a similar reversal from Grade 5 retinopathy without treatment. Improvement by one or more grades was seen in three other patients with variable grades of retinopathy after a mean of 3.3 years of treatment. Improvement was not related consistently to a decrease in blood pressure (0 of 4), better glycemic control (2 of 4), or reduction in albumin excretion rate (0 of 4). Proper double-blind controlled studies are needed to prove the effect of ACE inhibitors on diabetic microangiopathy of the eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D002216:Captopril; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin