Ocular fundus abnormalities in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy and other chronic kidney diseases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the ocular fundus pathology in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BN) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD).


METHODS
The study included 51 patients with BN from the South Morava River region in Serbia, and 102 subjects with different stages of chronic renal diseases, matched according to age and gender, obtained from a database used in a recently published study. All patients had visited Outpatient Department of the Clinic of Nephrology, Clinical Center Nis. All patients underwent routine ophthalmic examinations.


RESULTS
There were significantly more (P < 0.001) patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the group with BN (31.37 %) than in those with CKD (5.88 %). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the significant factors related to AMD in the group with BN were albuminuria (P < 0.05) and proteinuria (P < 0.05); in CKD patients, the level of HDL (P < 0.05), while negative correlation with the level of triglyceride was registered (P < 0.05). There was no association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and AMD. The significant factors related to retinopathy in the group with BN are age (P < 0.05) and serum creatinine values (P < 0.05), in patients with CKD increasing age (P < 0.001) and DM (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular fundus pathology in patients with BN is similar to the pathology of other CKD, but with significantly more AMD (about four times), probably related to the genetic/epigenetic factors.
Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Bul.Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000, Nis, Serbia. jdjordjevic.jocic@gmail.com.
Jasmina
J
Djordjevic Jocic
Clinic of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Rade
R
Cukuranovic
Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Bul.Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000, Nis, Serbia.
Predrag
P
Jovanovic
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Vidosava
V
Djordjevic
Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Marija
M
Mihajlovic
State University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia.
Dragan
D
Bogdanovic
Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Jovana
J
Cukuranovic-Kokoris
State University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia.|Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Vladisav
V
Stefanovic
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology; D001449:Balkan Nephropathy / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D003404:Creatinine
AMD; Balkan nephropathy; Chronic kidney disease; Retinopathy