Abstract :
Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a paramount microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), has a significant impact on the world’s health system. Up to 30 percent of patients with clinically significant macular oedema (CSME) will develop moderate visual loss. Other than diabetes, several systemic factors like dyslipidemia play an important role in the pathogenesis of DME. Thus, addressing these additional risk factors, in addition to adequate control of blood glucose helps to prevent and reverse
maculopathy to some extent, thereby preserving their vision.
Materials and Methods: This study was done on 150 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, presenting to the outpatient department of ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital, with CSME in either or both eye(s). A detailed history of each of these patients was taken and a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation of anterior and posterior segments was done. Following Biochemical tests were carried out: 1. fasting blood glucose and post prandial blood glucose, 2. fasting lipid profile (serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol).
Dyslipidaemia was defined by using national cholesterol education program–adult treatment panel III (NCEP ATP III) guidelines. Accordingly, dyslipidemia was identified, when at least one of the Fasting lipid profile parameters crossed the desirable range.
Statistical Analysis: Data obtained from Diabetic Retinopathy cases was analysed using chi-square test.
Results: A total of 150 patients of either gender, between the age groups 30-70 years, were enrolled into the study after applying inclusion and exclusion criterias. Dyslipidemia was present in 101/150 (67.3%) patients. LDL-cholesterol level was significantly high, whereas Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides and VLDL showed borderline high values. Further, the occurrence of CSME showed a statistically significant correlation with LDL in majority of patients.
Conclusions: We found a positive correlation between altered lipid profile and the development of CSME. Therefore, early detection of dyslipidemic changes, and appropriate intervention to control serum lipid levels might have a significant role in preventing moderate visual loss due to CSME, in Diabetic Retinopathy cases.
Keyword :
Clinically Significant Macular Edema, Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macular Edema, Dyslipidemia, Lipid Profile.