Retinal doppler ultrasound and homocystein levels in children with type I diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to measure plasma homocysteine levels and retinal arterial blood flow of type 1 diabetic children by Doppler ultrasound, which were known to be related with diabetic retinopathy and to compare them with healthy children.Materials and Methods: We selected 42 diabetic children (22 females, 20 males), between the ages of 8 to18 years (mean 13,2 +/- 4,3). Mean duration of type 1 diabetes was 5,02 +/- 2,99 years. For the control group, 30 children (15 females, 15 males) between the ages of 9 to 18 years (mean 14,01 +/- 3,5) were selected. In central retinal arteries and ophthalmic arteries, peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, pulsatility and resistivity indexes were measured.Results: Except for the higher central retinal artery diastolic velocity in the control group, retinal blood flow velocities were similiar in diabetic children and the control group (p<0,05). There was no significant correlation between the duration of diabetes and the retinal blood flow velocities of diabetic children (p>0,05). Mean ophthalmic artery peak systolic velocity (37,33 +/- 12,79 cm/sec) for well controlled diabetic children was higher than the poorly controlled group (31,1 +/- 17,17 cm/sec); mean ophthalmic artery resistivity index (0,76 +/- 0,08) for well controlled group was lower than the mean resistivity index ( 0,82 +/- 0,04) of poorly controlled group. Plasma homocysteine levels were higher in diabetic children ( 10,3 +/- 2,18 mu mol/L) than the control group (9,12 +/- 1,9 mu mol/L) (p<0,05). Plasma homocysteine levels of the poorly controlled diabetics (9,42 +/- 2,12 mu mol/L) were higher than the well controlled diabetics (11,33 +/- 2,05 mu mol/L).Conclusion: In the poorly controlled group total plasma homocysteine levels and ophthalmic artery resistivity indexes were increased compared to the well controlled diabetics and healthy children which might be risk factors for diabetic retinopathy.