Correlations between dyslipidemia and retinal parameters measured with Angio-OCT in type II diabetics without diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between lipoproteins such as total cholesterol, LDL-c, TG, and retinal parameters in patients with DM type II without signs of DR.

Method: A case-control study, consisting of 2 groups. A group of 64 patients with type II diabetes without signs of DR and a control group of 24 healthy subjects. Patients with DM type I, those who showed signs of DR, and those who had associated other eye diseases were excluded.

Results: The patients of the two studied groups had a similar average age: 65 years in the DM type II group and 64 years in the control group. In the group with DM, the average CRT was 241.31 µm, a significantly lower value compared to the control group, 252.51. The average value of DVFC was 19.19%, in patients with DM and 24.29% in the control group. An indirect correlation with moderate intensity was established between total cholesterol and CRT, (rs=-0.442, p≤0.001), thus it tended to decrease as total cholesterol increased. With increasing total cholesterol level, DVFC had a mild tendency to decrease (rs=-0.381, p≤0.001). An indirect correlation, but weak in intensity, existed between the LDL/HDL ratio and the DVFC S value (rs=-0.240, p=0.001).

Discussions: Central retinal thickness and central vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus were significantly lower in patients with type II diabetes, compared to control subjects. Total cholesterol had higher values in the DM group and an indirect correlation was established with CRT and DVFC, these having a moderate tendency to decrease as the total cholesterol values increased. An indirect and moderate relationship in intensity was also present between LDL and retinal parameters studied. These results were similar to those of other studies conducted, such as that of Chen et al. or Bernaous et al., who showed an association between various lipid classes and the frequency of DR. However, other studies, such as Ausdiab, found that this association did not hold.

Conclusions: Type II diabetes patients tend to have elevated serum lipid levels compared to normal subjects, but the impact of dyslipidemia on the onset and progression of DR is incompletely elucidated.