title: Diabetic retinopathy and its association with limited joint mobility.
abstract: Limited joint mobility (LJM) of the small joints of the hands was studied in 63 adult insulin-dependent diabetics to determine whether LJM might serve as an indicator to the presence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetics of long duration. In 123 non-diabetic controls, and in the 63 diabetics, the prevalence of LJM increased with age. In the diabetics, LJM was not associated with retinopathy, long-term glycaemic control or HLA type. The hypothesis that LJM is useful as a predictor of the development of retinopathy in young diabetics does not extend to older diabetics of long duration. LJM and retinopathy may have a different pathophysiology.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006680:HLA Antigens