Diabetic retinopathy at high altitude.
The objective of this study was to determine whether altitude hypoxia favors the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in healthy type 1 diabetic climbers with tight glycemia control. The retinas of 7 type 1 diabetic climbers with a history of stays at high altitude were studied through nonmydriatic chamber retinography (Ffo-CNM). The retinographies were performed before and after a 7,143 m peak expedition. One of the subjects presented evidence of DR prior to the ascent, in addition to a microhemorrhage afterward; the rest of the retinographies were normal. Fine glycemia management and adequate acclimatization are not the only cautions for diabetics going to altitude; an ophthalmologic exam beforehand is also recommended.
Leal
Conxita
C
Institut d'Estudis de Medicina de Muntanya (IEMM), Barcelona, Spain. cleal@camfic.org
Admetlla
Jordi
J
Viscor
Ginés
G
Ricart
Antoni
A
D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering