title: Retinopathy is a Strong Determinant of Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes: Correlation with Carotid Intima Media Thickness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the correlation between the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) as a marker of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 140 normotensive Egyptian patients (68 males and 72 females) with type 2 diabetes and DR. Carotid IMT was evaluated using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. DR was assessed and graded using colored fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography, as either nonproliferative DR (NPDR) or proliferative DR (PDR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid IMT was greater in patients with PDR compared to those with NPDR (1.094 ± 0.142 mm vs. 0.842 ± 0.134 mm; P<.001). Carotid IMT showed positive correlation with diabetes duration (P<.01), systolic blood pressure (P<.001), diastolic blood pressure (P<.01), fasting blood glucose (P<.01), postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) (P<.001), glycated hemoglobin (P<.01), total cholesterol (P<.01), triglycerides (TGs) (P<.001), and DR (P<.0001). No significant difference was found between males and females in any of the studied parameters. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the determinants of carotid IMT in the studied group were age (P<.01), PPBG (P<.01), TGs (P<.001), and DR (P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study proves that both NPDR and PDR are strong determinants of carotid IMT and atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Aasem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saif
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Ophthalmology Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karawya
authors.affiliation: Vascular Laboratory, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelhamid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose