Increased uric acid and glucose concentrations in vitreous and serum of patients with diabetic macular oedema.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by blood-retina barrier breakdown induced by local changes in the retina and systemic factors. We investigated vitreous and serum levels of glucose and uric acid (UA) in patients with DR and aimed to describe their correlation with the grade of DR.


METHODS
Prospective study of 81 patients with DR and 48 non-diabetic controls. Biochemical analysis of vitreous and serum samples was performed.


RESULTS
UA and glucose concentrations in vitreous and serum were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls. Absolute ratios (vitreous level/serum level) of UA and glucose were higher in proliferative compared with non-proliferative DR.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that, apart from glucose, increased levels of UA in diabetic patients may also be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of DR.
Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
Libuse
L
Krizova
Marta
M
Kalousova
Ales
A
Kubena
Hana
H
Benakova
Tomas
T
Zima
Zdenek
Z
Kovarik
Jan
J
Kalvoda
Bohdana
B
Kalvodova
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014527:Uric Acid; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human