title: Retinal Neurodegeneration in the Course of Diabetes-Pathogenesis and Clinical Perspective.
abstract: Diabetic retinopathy is generally considered as a microvascular disease which develops as a result of chronic hyperglycaemia. However, the neuronal apoptosis and reactive gliosis are recently postulated as early changes in diabetic retinopathy. This phenomenon is described as a neurodegeneration and suggests that diabetic retinopathy should be recognized as a neurovascular complication. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms leading to the neurodegeneration of the retina in diabetic patients including: low-grade inflammatory process, oxidative stress, activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, glutamate excitotoxicity and imbalance in the neuroprotective factors. Secondly, we point out the clinical significance of measuring the retinal neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Mickiewicza 2, 60-834 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araszkiewicz
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zozulinska-Ziolkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*