The comparison of the relationships about the presence of branch retinal vein occlusion and endothelial functions between diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the endothelial functions in both patients with diabetics and non-diabetics with branch retinal vein occlusion by using pulse wave analysis and flow-mediated dilatation methods.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included a total of 136 participants (47 diabetic patients with branch retinal vein occlusion, 43 non-diabetic patients with branch retinal vein occlusion, and 46 otherwise healthy subjects). Evaluation of endothelial functions was performed by flow-mediated dilatation and pulse wave analysis methods. Stiffness index, reflection index (RI), and pulse propagation time were calculated.

RESULTS

The mean stiffness index and RI were significantly higher in the diabetic branch retinal vein occlusion group compared with the non-diabetic branch retinal vein occlusion and the healthy controls (for stiffness index: 11.5 ± 2.8 vs. 10.1 ± 2.5 and 8.3 ± 2.0, < 0.001; and for RI: 75.1 ± 11.7 vs. 65.4 ± 8.4 and 60.2 ± 18.8, < 0.001, respectively), whereas the pulse propagation time was significantly lower in the diabetic group (156.4 ± 32.3 vs. 174.4 ± 46.5 and 205.0 ± 58.5, < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between visual acuity and stiffness index (r = -0.512, < 0.001). Besides, there was also a significant positive correlation between visual acuity and pulse propagation time (r = 0.398, < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the stiffness index and RI values were higher in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion compared to the healthy subjects.