Plasma lipids and plasma lipoproteins in diabetics with and without proliferative retinopathy.

The single most important factor related to the development of diabetic retinopathy is the duration of diabetes. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms, but many factors have been suggested to be involved, among them derangements in plasma lipids and plasma lipoproteins. In the present study we examined the relation between plasma lipids, plasma lipoproteins, and the duration of diabetes in Type I diabetics with and without proliferative retinopathy. The duration of diabetes in the two groups was 12.2 +/- 2.8 and 21.5 +/- 9.0 years, respectively (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.01). Except for moderately low HDL levels, plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were normal in both groups of patients. The levels of lipids and lipoproteins did not correlate with the duration of diabetes. Furthermore, no differences were seen between patients with and without proliferative retinopathy. Thus, the present study does not indicate that plasma lipids and plasma lipoproteins play any major role in the development of diabetic proliferative retinopathy.