Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the plasma homocysteine levels between control group and diabetic patients with no diabetic retinopathy, with preproliferative diabetic retinopathy, with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Materials and methods: Plasma homocysteine levels of 23 diabetic patients were measured and were compared with 25 age-matched controls with no systemic problem and no ocular disease. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results: Diabetic patients were divided into three groups according to their ophthalmological findings. There were 8 patients with no diabetic retinopathy, 8 patients with preproliferative diabetic retinopathy, 7 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Plasma homocysteine levels were higher in diabetic patients (13.30±4.03 µmol/L) compared to the control group (11.71±3.41 µmol/L) but no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p>0.05). Plasma homocysteine levels were measured 12.50±3.73 µmol/L in no diabetic retinopathy group, 12.90±2.59 µmol/L in preproliferative diabetic retinopathy group, 14.64±5.69 µmol/L in proliferative diabetic retinopathy group. In diabetic group, plasma homocysteine levels increased with the increase of the severity of retinopathy but not reached statistically significance (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Although no statistically significance was found, retinopathy progresses with the increase of plasma homocysteine levels. This can be used for the follow-up of the diabetic patients but further evaluation in large groups is needed.