[Values of ocular hemodynamics and serum endothelin-1 in the early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the values of ocular hemodynamics and serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DRP). METHODS: A total of 85 DRP patients were examined by ophthalmoscope and fluorescein angiography and divided into 3 groups no obvious retinopathy (n = 20), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 35) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 30). Control group included 15 healthy volunteers. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI) of ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) were measured by color Doppler energy imaging. The level of endothelin-1 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Then plasma ET-1 levels and eye vascular hemodynamic parameters were compared with correlation and diagnostic specificity after data analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, DRP, EDV and PSV decreased progressively while RI increased gradually (P < 0.05). EDV and RI were more sensitive than PSV in diagnosis. The plasma level of ET-1 was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). And it was correlated positively with RI and negatively with PSV and EDV of CRA. The diagnostic value of EDV was higher than that of ET-1 level. CONCLUSION: Ocular hemodynamics become abnormal during the early stage of DRP and worsen with the progress of DRP. An elevated plasma level of ET-1 may lead to the abnormal of retinal hemodynamics. The test of plasma ET-1 and the examination of ocular hemodynamics may play an important role in the early diagnosis of DRP.