title: Assessing of the relationship between renal function tests and retinopathy stage in patients with type II diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinopathy and nephropathy are long-term diabetes complications which are associated together. Renal dysfunction is a risk factor for progression and deterioration of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels in the retina and kidney which eventually resulted in diabetic nephropathy, renal failure and blindness. Due to the high cost for treating of these complications it is better to prevent them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the patients' kidney function and retinal status in a group of diabetic patients to find probable association between nephropathy and retinopathy hence can prevent from serious renal complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study 253 patients with type 2 diabetes referring to ophthalmology clinics were evaluated. Eye examination was conducted by an ophthalmologist (vitreoretinal subspecialist) and disease stage was determined, then serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine tests and 24-hour urine collection for microalbuminuria were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean of BUN and microalbuminuria had significant difference in three groups including proliferative retinopathy, non-proliferative retinopathy and patients without retinopathy. The mean (± SD) of serum creatinine in patients with proliferative retinopathy, non-proliferative retinopathy and patients without retinopathy had no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence or absence of retinopathy in the early stages of diabetic kidney disease has not related to renal involvement, in fact, patients without retinopathy may have renal involvement. In periodic examination, diabetic patients should be evaluated for microalbuminuria in addition to renal function test examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tamadon
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Social Determinants of Health , Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Raheb
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daraei
keywords: Diabetes complications; Diabetic retinopathy; Nephropathy
references.citation: Community Eye Health. 2003;16(46):21-4
references.pmid: 17491851
references.citation: Braz J Med Biol Res. 2006 Aug;39(8):1033-9
references.pmid: 16906278
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2004 Jan;27 Suppl 1:S84-7
references.pmid: 14693935
references.citation: Chin Med J (Engl). 2006 May 20;119(10):822-6
references.pmid: 16732984
references.citation: J Am Soc Nephrol. 2003 Jul;14(7 Suppl 2):S144-7
references.pmid: 12819320
references.citation: Hong Kong Med J. 2004 Oct;10(5):307-11
references.pmid: 15479958
references.citation: Mol Vis. 2008 May 28;14:992-6
references.pmid: 18523656
references.citation: Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2008 Feb;83(2):85-8
references.pmid: 18260018