Study of the relationship between microalbuminuria and diabetes retinopathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Prospective studies focusing on the relationship between diabetic retinopathy and the presence of microalbuminuria are lacking. The objective of the present study was to determine the potential relationship between both forms of diabetic microangiopathy by means of a five-year long prospective study in which 104 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and with no retinal involvement at the beginning of the study were included. At the end of the study four groups of patients emerged: group 1, made up of 63 patients without both retinal involvement and microalbuminuria; group 2, made up of 17 patients with both retinopathy and microalbuminuria; group 3, with 16 patients with retinopathy but without microalbuminuria, and group 4, with eight patients with microalbuminuria only. In the statistical study, a direct significance was observed for both increased levels of HbA1c and total cholesterol; and a reverse significance for increased levels of HDL-cholesterol as well as the presence of diastolic arterial hypertension, for group 2 (patients with both retinopathy and microalbuminuria). For group 3, increased levels of triglycerides and evolution time (patients with retinopathy but without microalbuminuria) were significant. In the present study we conclude that microalbuminuria is not a good marker for diabetic microangiopathy defined as renal and retinal involvement, although its presence prompt us to watch more frequently the ocular fundus in diabetic patients.