title: Comparison of diabetic retinopathy phenotype between Latinos and Blacks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to delineate the difference in the phenotype of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Latinos versus Blacks using characteristics shown on fundus photography (FP) and fluorescein angiography (FA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective chart review of 203 adult Black and Latino diabetic patients from the King-Drew Medical Center eye clinic from January 1998 to March 2005. Systemic risk factors such as HbA(1c) and kidney function data were collected. FP and FA were analyzed and graded according to Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria. Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether a given lesion type was more characteristic of a particular racial group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gender, age, median microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and average HbA(1c) values were not significantly different between the groups. The presence of clinically significant macular edema (CSME), focal or diffuse, was very high in both groups (44% in Latinos and 46% in Blacks), and the overall DR grades were similar. However, upon individual lesion analysis, the Latinos were noted to have more prevalent intraretinal hemorrhages involving a greater area of the retina (P=.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Latinos and Blacks of comparable age and glycemic control are equally at risk for CSME and proliferative retinopathy, Latinos may be at greater risk for a specific phenotype of DR characterized by extravasation of intraretinal hemorrhages, which is associated with poor prognosis. Further prospective studies may uncover racial differences that may have implications for prognosis and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Damien M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Luviano
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarraf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001741:Black or African American