RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus whose prevalence is closely related to the presence of nephropathy and hypertension. The aim was to study clinical and pharmacological factors that are associated with an increased need for laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 63 patients followed in the Diabetic Nephropathy consultation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether or not previously have received photocoagulation. In each subgroup were studied demographic variables, anthropometric, laboratory, cardiovascular risk factors and treatment received by each patient for the control of hypertension, diabetes and others diseases. RESULTS: We observed that the group had received photocoagulation had more years of diabetes evolution, more history of cardiovascular disease and a lower creatinine clearance. Similarly, the percentage of patients treated with carvedilol was significantly higher in the subgroup who had not received photocoagulation while the percentage of patients treated with beta-blockers was significantly higher in the subgroup that received photocoagulation; no significant differences was observed in the degree of control blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and pharmacological factors related to the requirements of laser photocoagulation were years of diabetes evolution, history of cardiovascular disease, the stage of kidney disease and the treatment with beta-blockers.