Histopathologic evaluation of the internal limiting membrane surgically excised from eyes with diabetic maculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To histopathologically evaluate the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in diabetic eyes with macular edema as compared to nondiabetic controls.


METHODS
The authors ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically studied ILM specimens that were intentionally peeled from five eyes with diabetic maculopathy, comprising four with diffuse diabetic macular edema and one with macular hole accompanying diabetic retinopathy (DM group), and five with nondiabetic idiopathic macular hole (MH group). They compared ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings between the two groups.


RESULTS
A larger amount of cellular elements was observed on the vitreous side of the ILM in the DM group. The thickness of the ILM in the DM group was significantly increased (mean 4.8 +/- 1.6 microm) compared with that in the MH group (1.8 +/- 0.6 microm) (P < 0.0001). Immunoreactions for heparan sulfate proteoglycan in the ILM were more abundant in the DM group than in the MH group.


CONCLUSIONS
The ILM thickening and cell abundance on the vitreous surface might contribute to the course and the pathogenesis of diabetic maculopathy.
Matsunaga
Noriko
N
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Japan. matsunaga@hakuaikai.jp
Ozeki
Hironori
H
Hirabayashi
Yoshifumi
Y
Shimada
Shoichi
S
Ogura
Yuichiro
Y
D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D014821:Vitrectomy
D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans