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Plasma homocysteine levels are associated with macular thickness in type 2 diabetes without diabetic macular edema

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the relationships between macular thickness and the plasma concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and other known risk factors for patients with diabetes without diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods

Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 252 subjects (126 relatively healthy subjects with type 2 diabetes without diabetic macular edema and 126 age- and gender-matched controls). Measurement of macular thickness and volume was performed for those subjects using SD-OCT. The plasma concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and other known risk factors were analyzed in all the patients and controls using multiple linear regression models.

Results

An increase in the serum levels of homocysteine was present within patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy individuals. The mean total plasma homocysteine levels were associated with a greater central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), average macular thickness (AMT), and average macular volume (AMV) in patients with type 2 diabetes without DME, after adjusting for age, sex, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c. Each 1 mmol/L increase in tHcy level was associated with a 6.57 µm greater CSMT (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78, 11.36), a 4.51 µm greater AMT (95% CI 1.05, 7.98), and a 4.72 mm3 greater AMV (95% CI 1.23, 8.21).

Conclusions

Higher homocysteine levels were associated with an increased CSMT, AMT, and AMV in diabetic patients without DME. This link may indicate that patients with type 2 diabetes with increased levels of plasma tHcy are more prone to develop a clinical manifestation of DME.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the support of Xiao Lin Chair in Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, 4, Gansu Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300020, People’s Republic of China

    Ning Dong & Xin Tang

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Shi

Authors
  1. Ning Dong
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  2. Hong Shi
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  3. Xin Tang
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Correspondence to Xin Tang.

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, and was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

Each subject received a detailed information leaflet and provided informed written consent before participation.

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Dong, N., Shi, H. & Tang, X. Plasma homocysteine levels are associated with macular thickness in type 2 diabetes without diabetic macular edema. Int Ophthalmol 38, 737–746 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0528-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0528-0

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