Retinal vessel caliber and peripheral neuropathy in diabetic participants.
BACKGROUND
Retinal vascular caliber changes predict diabetic microvascular complications such as retinopathy, and nephropathy. However, the association between retinal vasculature and peripheral neuropathy is not well studied.


METHODS
We evaluated the association between retinal vascular caliber and peripheral neuropathy in a multi-ethnic Asian population with diabetes (n = 423) in Singapore. Retinal arteriolar and venular caliber was measured from digital retinal photographs and summarized as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent. Peripheral neuropathy was defined from neurothesiometer or monofilament sensory testing.


RESULTS
Larger CRAE was positively associated with peripheral neuropathy independent of age, sex, ethnicity, current smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and duration of diabetes. The multivariable odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of peripheral neuropathy was 2.81 (1.38-5.73) comparing highest vs. lower three quartiles of CRAE. This association was consistently present in analyses stratified by age, sex and ethnicity. Retinal venular caliber was not associated with peripheral neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that larger retinal arteriolar diameters are associated with peripheral neuropathy independent of major risk factors.
Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Charumathi
C
Sabanayagam
E Shyong
ES
Tai
Jeannette
J
Lee
Su Chi
SC
Lim
Tien Yin
TY
Wong
D000368:Aged; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore; D014699:Venules / Q000473:pathology