Optic disk manifestation in diabetic eyes with low serum albumin: late fluorescein staining and high blood flow velocities in the optic disk.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate ocular findings and blood flow characteristics in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with low serum albumin (ALB).


METHODS
We studied 106 eyes of 53 type II DM patients without proliferative diabetic retinopathy and panretinal photocoagulation. All underwent standard ophthalmic examinations, color Doppler imaging, and serum ALB measurements. The patients were divided into Group 1 (34 cases) with a serum ALB > or =3.8 g/dl and Group 2 (19 cases) with ALB<3.8 g/dl.


RESULTS
All of the optic disks appeared normal by Ophthalmoscopy except one case with the lowest serum ALB. The number of optic disks showing late fluorescein staining was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. Peak systolic velocities in the central retinal artery (CRA, P=0.02) and central retinal vein (CRV, P<0.001) were significantly higher in Group 2, and significantly correlated with the serum ALB value (CRA; r=0.41, P=0.003 and CRV; r=0.60, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that low serum ALB enhances the permeability of the vessels in or around the optic disk and induces subclinical optic disk edema, which is characterized by late fluorescein staining and high blood flow velocities in the CRA and CRV.
Fujioka
Sayuri
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan. fujioka-sa@mc.pref.osaka.jp
Karashima
Kaoruko
K
Nishikawa
Norikiyo
N
Saito
Yoshihiro
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply*; D010211:Papilledema / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
D012709:Serum Albumin