Behaviour of serum uric acid and lipid profile in relation to glycemic status in proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is emerging as one of the important causes of blindness in both developing and developed countries. High hemoglobin A1c level, high 2-hr blood glucose level, low uric acid level and positivity for proteinuria were found to be significantly associated for the development diabetic retinopathy. The study was done on a total of 75 subjects. They were divided into 3 groups as: Group 1 - 25 subjects of Diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, Group 2 - 25 subjects of Diabetes mellitus without retinopathy & Group 3 - 25 Healthy Normal subjects. 7 cases were diagnosed as Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and other 18 cases as Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy based on fundoscopic examination. Results clearly indicate that there exists a poor glucose homeostasis & lipid derangement as a metabolic consequence in diabetic retinopathy cases. Uric acid levels were significantly less in cases of diabetes mellitus without complications, as compared to normal controls. Uric acid levels showed an increasing trend in retinopathy group. Conclusion: Serum uric acid level plays an important role in the pathogenesis & progression of long term complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Uric acid levels have tendency to decrease before retinopathy complication sets in and tends to increase with the onset of retinopathy. Behaviour of uric acid levels may thus indicate along with co-existence of lipid derangements, the ongoing pathophysiology in diabetes in relation to glycemic control, insulin resistance, onset and progression of complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy.