title: Non-traditional systemic treatments for diabetic retinopathy: an evidence-based review.
abstract: The rapid escalation in the global prevalence diabetes, with more than 30% being afflicted with diabetic retinopathy (DR), means it is likely that associated vision-threatening conditions will also rise substantially. This means that new therapeutic approaches need to be found that go beyond the current standards of diabetic care, and which are effective in the early stages of the disease. In recent decades several new pharmacological agents have been investigated for their effectiveness in preventing the appearance and progression of DR or in reversing DR; some with limited success while others appear promising. This up-to-date critical review of non-traditional systemic treatments for DR is based on the published evidence in MEDLINE spanning 1980-December 2014. It discusses a number of therapeutic options, paying particular attention to the mechanisms of action and the clinical evidence for the use of renin-angiotensin system blockade, fenofibrate and calcium dobesilate monohydrate in DR.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Metabolism Reseach Unit. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabolicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). Barcelona, Spain Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129. 08035 Barcelona, Spain. rafael.simo@vhir.org.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simó
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballarini
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cunha-Vaz
authors.forename: Linong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zimmet
authors.forename: Tien Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002123:Calcium Dobesilate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002123:Calcium Dobesilate; D011345:Fenofibrate