title: CLINICAL COURSE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN KOREAN TYPE 2 DIABETES AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the changes in diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients after bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive 20 patients with T2DM who underwent bariatric surgery and were followed for at least 12 months were enrolled. The case history was reviewed retrospectively, and laboratory data were assessed at baseline and every 3 months postoperatively. Two retinal specialists evaluated the severity of DR with dilated fundus examination preoperatively and postoperatively. Factors associated with DR progression were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, 2 of 12 patients without DR and 2 of 3 patients with mild nonproliferative DR before surgery developed moderate nonproliferative DR. All five patients with moderate nonproliferative DR or worse preoperatively had progression requiring intervention. Preexisting DR (P = 0.005) and albuminuria (P = 0.01) were identified as associated with DR progression. Six patients (30%) entered remission of T2DM, but remission of T2DM could not halt the DR progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic retinopathy progression can occur in patients with or without before DR after bariatric surgery, regardless of remission of T2DM. All patients with T2DM should be examined regularly by an ophthalmologist postoperatively, and more carefully patients with previous DR or albuminuria.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Ophthalmology, and †Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Du Ri
authors.initials: du R
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Myung Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Yul
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Kyung Seek
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine