PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE-4 INHIBITORS ON PROGRESSION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors on the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with Type 2 diabetes based on the DR severity scale.


METHODS
The medical records of 82 patients with Type 2 diabetes enrolled from 2005 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Fundus photographs were graded using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study methods. The associations between baseline risk factors and progression of DR were investigated.


RESULTS
Seven of 28 patients treated with DPP4 inhibitors and 26 of 54 treated with other hypoglycemic agents showed progression of retinopathy, defined as one or more steps on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale (P = 0.043). Only treatment with DPP4 inhibitors significantly reduced the progression of DR in patients after propensity score matching (P = 0.009). Treatment with DPP4 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of DR progression (P = 0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with DPP4 inhibitors was the independent protective factor against the progression of DR, aside from improving glycemic control. This is the first study to show the benefits of DPP4 inhibitors in reducing DR progression, and provides encouraging preliminary data for further evaluation of DPP4 inhibitors in the progression of DR in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
*Department of Ophthalmology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea; †Fight Against Angiogenesis-Related Blindness (FARB) Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; and Departments of ‡Biomedical Sciences, and §Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yoo-Ri
YR
Chung
Sung Wook
SW
Park
Jong Wan
JW
Kim
Jeong Hun
JH
Kim
Kihwang
K
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors