[Changes in the total lacrimal output in patients with various-stage diabetic retinopathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus of different severity].
A total of 99 patients (198 eyes) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and DR of various stages were observed. Disorders in the total lacrimal output (TLO) were detected in a majority of the observed patients; it is noteworthy, that the indices of Schirmer's test (ST) ranged widely and were of a diversified nature--from hypersecretion to a virtual lack of lacrimal fluid. A correlation was established between a defect of lacrimal output and a nature of the clinical course of the principle disease--IDDM (duration, severity, presence of diabetic nephropathy and violations of lipid metabolism) and also a patient's age. A retrospective analysis showed that the changes in TLO precede the onset and aggravation of DR. Lacrimal hypersecretion is associated, as a rule, with a lack of DR or with a stabilization of initial changes in the retina. The deficit and/or asymmetry of TLO as well as reduced values of TLO, while studied dynamically and irrespective of the initial TS values, can serve as risk criteria in the DR aggravation; besides, they can be used in practice for prognosticating the DR clinical course in IDDM patients.
Novikova-Bilak
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors