RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diabetic retinopathy in Down’s syndrome
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 407
OP 409
DO 10.1136/bjo.82.4.407
VO 82
IS 4
A1 Tim Fulcher
A1 Margaret Griffin
A1 Seamus Crowley
A1 Richard Firth
A1 Robert Acheson
A1 Niall O’Meara
YR 1998
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/82/4/407.abstract
AB AIM To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Down’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus. METHOD Nine patients with Down’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus were assessed. Factors recorded included type and duration of diabetes, level of diabetic control, blood pressure, urinalysis, and results of ophthalmological examination. RESULTS The duration of diabetes ranged from 8 to 41 years (mean 17.6 years). All had satisfactory glycaemic control and blood pressure measurements on the low side of normal (mean 106.6/70 mm Hg). One patient had early background diabetic retinopathy. The remainder had no evidence of diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION The low prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in these Down’s syndrome patients, despite the long duration, is an interesting finding. It suggests some inherent protective factor against the development of diabetic retinopathy in this patient subgroup.