[Tyndallometry in patients with diabetic macular edema before and after central laser coagulation].
BACKGROUND
It is known that the breakdown of the blood-retina-barrier (BRB) as well as the blood-aqueous-barrier (BAB) is one of the earliest pathopysiological changes in the diabetic eye. Some previous studies confirmed a statistically significant increase of flare values of the aqueous humor in eyes with diabetic retinopathy which is lineary correlated with the protein concentration. This study investigated the effect of a central laser photocoagulation in eyes with clinically significant macular edema on the permeability of the blood-aqueous-barrier (BAB).


METHODS
We included 22 eyes of 22 patients with diabetes mellitus suffering from clinically significant macular edema determined by fluorescence angiography giving an indication for central laser treatment. Two measurements of aqueous flare were taken, the first before laser photocoagulation (grid with about 100 coagulations) and the second 6 to 8 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
The flare values before treatment were 11.4 +/- 4.1 phc/ms (4.9-23.8) and after treatment 10.0 +/- 3.5 phc/ms (5.7-16.7). There was a significant difference between both measurements (p = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
The protein concentration of the aqeoues humor is a parameter which allows to characterize the permeability of the BAB. The central laser photocoagulation seems to seal the vessels.
Wiedemann
R
R
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universität Leipzig.
Walter
A
A
Wiedemann
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000502:physiology; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
D005136:Eye Proteins
Tyndallometrie bei Patienten mit diabetischem Makulaödem vor und nach zentraler Laserkoagulation.