Early macular dysfunction detected by focal electroretinographic recording in non-insulin-dependent diabetics without retinopathy.
The focal electroretinogram, which measures the functional integrity of the distal retina of the macula, was recorded with a hand-held stimulator-ophthalmoscope in 26 eyes from patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with normal fundus photography, and in 52 control eyes of similar age range. Implicit time and amplitude of the responses were studied as a function of the age, glycemic control through glycosylated hemoglobin measurement and duration of diabetes. Implicit time and amplitude were significantly delayed (F=5.05, p=0.028) and reduced (F=11.26, p=0.013) in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy compared to control subjects. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the implicit time (r=0.57, p=0.002) and amplitude (r=-0.65, p=0.0004) with the duration of diabetes but not with hemoglobin Alc. These results strongly suggest an early macular dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus before the appearance of diabetic retinopathy.
Visual Electrodiagnostic Research Unit, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
M C
MC
Deschênes
S G
SG
Coupland
S A
SA
Ross
G H
GH
Fick
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin