title: Diabetic retinopathy treated with laser photocoagulation and the indirect effect on glycaemic control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify any possible relation between glycaemic control and previous laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two patients with diabetes were included in the study and were separated into 2 groups according to previous treatment (group A) or not (group B) with argon laser photocoagulation. Glycaemic control was estimated by measuring blood levels of HbA1c in four consecutive measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood levels of HbA1c in group A were significantly lower 3, 6, and 12 months after laser treatment as compared to blood levels of HbA1c before laser treatment (7.1 ± 0.4% versus 7.6 ± 0.9%, 7.2 ± 0.2% versus 7.6 ± 0.9%, and 7.1 ± 0.2% versus 7.6 ± 0.9%, resp., all P < 0.05). Blood levels of HbA1c in group B did not differ significantly in four consecutive measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that we should anticipate a better glycaemic control in cases of patients with diabetes previously treated with laser photocoagulation.
authors.affiliation: St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, L7 8XP, UK ; Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6297-049X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Praidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Androudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Periklis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brazitikos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5438-2874
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karakiulakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsinopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimitrakos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human