Summary
Two aspects of endothelial cell function were examined in two matched groups of male insulin-dependent diabetics, six with background retinopathy and seven without retinopathy. Leakage of fluorescein from the retinal capillaries was estimated by vitreous fluorophotometry. In addition, factors VIII/von Willebrand (vWF) and VIII-related antigen (VIII-RAG), which are synthesized by the endothelial cells, were measured, together with VIII-antihaemophilic factor (VIII-AHF). The patients without retinopathy had normal leakage of fluorescein in the macula (mean ± SEM: 1.10±0.10 g × 10-8/ml) and the posterior vitreous (0.45±0.11 g × 10-8/ml), and normal circulating levels of vWF (123% of a normal reference plasma ± 18%), VIII-RAG (137±14%) and VIII-AHF (112±18%). In contrast, the patients with background retinopathy showed higher leakage of fluorescein in the macula (6.34±1.74 g ×10-8/ml; p<0.01), and the posterior vitreous (3.09±0.94 g ×10-8/ml; p<0.02), as well as increased levels of vWF (177±16%; p<0.05). There was a trend towards increased VIII-RAG (195±24%; p<0.1), but not VIII-AHF (126 ±13%). Alterations of endothelial cell function thus accompany the development of retinopathy. It cannot be said from the present study whether these alterations also precede the appearance of retinopathy.
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Porta, M., Townsend, C., Clover, G.M. et al. Evidence for functional endothelial cell damage in early diabetic retinopathy. Diabetologia 20, 597–601 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00257426
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00257426