Correlation between eye and renal complications of diabetes

Introduction. Complications of diabetes can affect almost all tissues and organs, causing high morbidity, disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine eye and kidney disorders of patients with patients with diabetes, and assess the correlation between them. Material and Methods. This retrospective study included 45 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes for more than ten years. The patients were divided into three groups of 15 subjects each: patients without diabetic retinopathy, patients with non-proliferative retinopathy, and patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Results. The average levels of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were highest in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (11.27 mmol/l and 8.48%, respectively). Of 30 patients with diabetic eye diseases, diabetic maculopathy was found in 60% of cases; of those, 20% had nonproliferative retinopathy and 40% had proliferative retinopathy. The mean values of best corrected visual acuity, in both eyes, were 0.45 in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, while mean values of serum urea and creatinine, creatinine clearance, and 24-h albuminuria in this group were 7.37 mmol/l, 106.13 μmol/l, 72.80 ml/min, and 346.31 mg/24h, respectively. Conclusion. Severe forms of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy were found in patients with poor metabolic regulation. A correlation between diabetic eye and kidney diseases was established, and the level of visual damage correlated with the degree of renal function impairment.