[Autoregulation of retinal arterioles in patients with diabetes mellitus and normal probands].
BACKGROUND
Measurement of myogenic autoregulation of retinal arterioles was demonstrated by the use of the Retinal-Vessel-Analyzer (Carl Zeiss, Jena). The purpose of the presented study was to find a significant difference of this myogenic response in a group of healthy individuals vs. a group of patients with pathologic conditions.


METHODS
As a group of patients with known pathology in microcirculation patients with type 1 diabetes were chosen. By isometric exercise an identical rise in mean arterial blood-pressure was provoked in 20 patients with type-1 diabetes and 20 matched healthy volunteers. The myogenic response of retinal arterioles was measured in both groups by the use of the Retinal-Vessel-Analyzer. The Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis within the two groups whereas both groups were compared with each other by the use of the Mann-Whitney test.


RESULTS
Having the same age and same blood-pressure rise (p = 0.624) a significant better myogenic response was found in the healthy subjects vs. the diabetic group (p = 0.008). In the diabetic group no correlation was found between myogenic response and duration of diabetes (p = 0.982) or HbA1c values (p = 0.83).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study significant loss of autoregulation in patients with type 1 diabetes is demonstrated. By the use of the Retinal-Vessel-Analyzer noninvasive testing of the function of autoregulation of retinal arterioles is possible. This method might prove to be of great value in early detection of diabetic vessel pathology.
Blum
M
M
Augenklinik der Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena.
Kubetschka
U
U
Hunger-Dathe
W
W
Bachmann
K
K
Müller
U A
UA
Strobel
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*