Beta-hexosaminidase activities in tears and plasma, diphosphoglycerate in blood of diabetic patients.

In a study on 10 normal controls, 7 pregnant women and 16 diabetic patients, beta-hexosaminidase in tears and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in blood were investigated for possible use as index for diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy. Tears were used as source for beta-hexosaminidase because the concentration in plasma and the isoenzyme pattern are affected by the occurrence of a placentar isoenzyme in pregnancy. It has been found that in diabetes the concentration of beta-hexosaminidase in plasma may be elevated, but that it remains unchanged in tears and that there is no correlation between the plasma and tear values in all individuals. Neither beta-hexosaminidase in tears nor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in blood appears as indicator for the onset or development of diabetic retinopathy.