Evaluation of the corneal endothelium in patients with diabetes mellitus type I and II.
The aim of the present study is to determine corneal physiology and endothelial morphology after proper image analysis technique in type I and II diabetic patients. The HbA1c level and the grade of retinopathy were also recorded and correlated with the endothelial parameters.



41 eyes of 21 patients with type I and 59 eyes of 30 patients with type II diabetes mellitus (mean age was 40.97 ± 15.46 and 64.36 ± 10.47 years) were examined and compared to age-matched controls. Endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area, coefficient of variation of cell area, central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and grade of retinopathy were recorded.



There was a statistically significant decreased endothelial cell density in type I disease (2428 ± 219 cell/mm2) in comparison with healthy subjects (2495 ± 191 cell/mm2, P=0.02). The diabetic corneas were thicker than normal (P=0.001). The HbA1c level was inversely correlated with the ECD (r=-0.60; P<0.0001) and correlated with the mean endothelial cell area (r=0.60, P<0.0001). Significant correlation was observed between the endothelial morphology and grade of diabetic retinopathy (r=-0.40, ECD; r=0.38, mean cell area; P=0.01 for both). In type II diabetes mellitus no significant difference was found in the evaluated values.



The present study disclosed the alteration of the corneal endothelial morphology in type I diabetes mellitus as compared to normal subjects. The results indicated that type I diabetic corneas are more susceptible to environmental changes than type II corneas.
Módis
László
L
University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Debrecen, Hungary. lmodis@dragon.klte.hu
Szalai
Eszter
E
Kertész
Katalin
K
Kemény-Beke
Adám
A
Kettesy
Beáta
B
Berta
András
A
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human