Correlation between erythrocyte aldose reductase level and human diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Aim: To examine the relation between aldose reductase (AR) and the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy by comparing the erythrocyte AR levels with the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in NIDDM patients. Methods: A clinic based cross sectional study was used. 611 NIDDM patients and 73 controls were enrolled. Erythrocyte AR levels were determined by ELISA. These AR levels were then correlated with patient age, duration of diabetes, and HbA 1c levels. AR levels were also correlated with the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the entire NIDDM patient group and in three subgroups formed by separating the NIDDM patients by their duration of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased with increased erythrocyte AR levels in patients with duration of diabetes of less than 10 years. A similar, but non-significant correlation between the prevalence of retinopathy and increased erythrocyte AR levels was observed in patients with diabetes duration of 10-20 and >20 years. Results: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy increased with increased erythrocyte AR levels in NIDDM patients with a duration of diabetes of less than 10 years. Conclusion: It was suggested that the inhibition of AR in patients with early NIDDM might be beneficial in reducing the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Ranirestat (AS-3201), a Potent Aldose Reductase Inhibitor, Reduces Sorbitol Levels and Improves Motor Nerve Conduction Velocity in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats

“…AR inhibitors (ARI) capable of preventing sorbitol accumulation typical of hyperglycemia may be useful in the management of the complications of diabetes such as retinopathy (5), nephropathy (6), and neuropathy (7). Thus, a number of ARIs have been developed, and some have been found to prevent or reverse diabetes-induced biochemica1, functional, and histological changes in the lens, retina, and peripheral nerves (8 -10).…”

The role of enzymes of the glyoxalase system in relation to complications in type II diabetes mellitus

“…This implies that molecular mechanisms underlying development of nephropathy is not reflected in the altered enzyme levels to the same extent as in cases of neuropathy and retinopathy. Increased aldose reductase in neuropathy and retinopathy [25][26][27][28] as well as increased lactate in retinopathy has been documented. Maximum significant rise was observed in patients with nephropathy.…”

A game changer for eye care for diabetes

“…Hyperglycaemia-induced increased aldose reductase activity also results in a build-up of sorbitol, thought to cause osmotic damage to vascular cells 161 . A study of 611 people with type 2 diabetes and 73 controls reported increased DR prevalence with increasing red cell aldose reductase 647 . Other studies have confirmed this relationship.…”