Atorvastatin for diabetic macular edema in patients with diabetes mellitus and elevated serum cholesterol.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of atorvastatin in reducing hard exudates and diabetic macular edema.


METHODS
An uncontrolled clinical case series included 18 eyes with diabetic maculopathy and an elevated baseline lipid profile. All patients were treated with atorvastatin. Ophthalmologic evaluation, including fundus photography and fluorescein angiography, was performed at presentation and repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months. Hard exudates, hemorrhages, and fluorescein leakage at 12 months were evaluated and compared with baseline findings.


RESULTS
Eighteen subjects with diabetic maculopathy received atorvastatin, and a significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was seen (P < .05). Hard exudates and fluorescein leakage were decreased. No evidence of an association between change in hemorrhage status and treatment was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral atorvastatin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia seems to reduce the severity of hard exudates and fluorescein leakage in diabetic maculopathy and could be useful as an adjuvant therapy in the management of diabetic macular edema.
Panagiotoglou
Theonitsa D
TD
Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Ganotakis
Emmanuel S
ES
Kymionis
George D
GD
Moschandreas
Joanna A
JA
Fanti
Garufalia N
GN
Charisis
Spyridon K
SK
Malliaraki
Niki E
NE
Tsilimbaris
Miltiadis K
MK
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles