title: Medical management of diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: Although current treatment and prevention of diabetic retinopathy with laser photocoagulation, and tight metabolic and blood pressure control has reduced the risk of visual loss, there is still a need for additional therapies. A literature review on medical therapies for diabetic retinopathy has been performed, and the following classes of drugs are discussed: blockers of the renin-angiotensin system, protein kinase C-beta inhibitors, glitazones, somatostatin analogues, lipid-lowering drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs. There is experimental and clinical data suggesting beneficial effect from several classes of drugs on diabetic retinopathy, and results from large clinical trials are awaited within the next 3-4 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sjølie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D013004:Somatostatin; C089946:2,4-thiazolidinedione; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta