Erythrocyte aldose reductase level and the progression of diabetic retinopathy

To investigate the role of the aldose reductase protein level on the progression of diabetic retinopathy, the erythrocyte aldose reductase protein level was determined in 76 NIDDM patients by a two-site ELISA using recombinant human aldose reductase. Among 25 patients with proliferative retinopathy, which was developed within 5 years of the diagnosis of diabetes, the level of erythrocyte aldose reductase was significantly higher than that of 51 patients with no or mild retinopathy more than 8 years after the diagnosis and with prolonged hyperglycemia. The age at examination was younger and the maximum body mass index in the past was higher in patients with proliferative retinopathy than that in patients with no or mild retinopathy. These results indicate that the level of erythrocyte aldose reductase protein in NIDDM patients is associated with the progression of retinopathy irrespective of glycaemia control and diabetes duration.