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Red blood cell membrane mechanical fluctuations in non-proliferative and proliferate diabetic retinopathy

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Abstract

Purpose

To study whether cell membrane mechanical fluctuation (CMF) of red blood cells (RBCs) are attenuated in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Patients and methods

Point dark-field microscopy-based recordings of local membrane displacements (frequency 0.3–25 Hz) were compared between type 2 diabetes patients with mild-to-moderate and severe NPDR and type 2 diabetes patients with PDR. The matched control group, corresponding to each stage of diabetic retinopathy, was based on non-diabetic patients who were evaluated in our clinic due to cataract.

Results

The average mean values of the maximal CMF amplitude did not differ between RBCs of NPDR patients (n=20) and controls (n=20) (19.5±1.5% and 19.6±1.7%, respectively). A statistically significant decrease in CMF amplitudes was observed in patients with PDR compared with patients with a non-proliferative disease (NPDR −20%, PDR −90%).

Conclusion

This new rheological characteristic demonstrates differences in the mechanical properties of RBCs in different stages of diabetic retinopathy. The significant reduction in CMF in patients with PDR may shed more light on the possible mechanism modulating retinal ischemia and leading to angiogenesis in these patients. Larger-scale studies are needed to evaluate these findings and the possible correlation between significantly lower CMF values and the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem (#3735, Dr Alster) and Office of Navy Research, Arlington, Va (#G-00014-94-10005, Drs Levin and Korenstein). The authors thank Esther Eshkol for editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, 6 Weitzman Street, Tel-Aviv, 64239, Israel

    Michaella Goldstein, Igal Leibovitch, Yair Alster & Anat Loewenstein

  2. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Shlomo Levin, Galina Malkin & Rafi Korenstein

Authors
  1. Michaella Goldstein
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  2. Igal Leibovitch
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  3. Shlomo Levin
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  4. Yair Alster
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  5. Anat Loewenstein
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  6. Galina Malkin
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  7. Rafi Korenstein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Igal Leibovitch.

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Goldstein, M., Leibovitch, I., Levin, S. et al. Red blood cell membrane mechanical fluctuations in non-proliferative and proliferate diabetic retinopathy. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 242, 937–943 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0946-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0946-3

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