[The plasma levels of endothelin in diabetic retinopathy and their changes after treatment with doxium].

The plasma endothelin (ET) concentrations were determined in 45 diabetes mellitus patients. The changes of ET in 20 diabetic retinopathy patients before and after treatment with doxium and 30 normal controls were observed. The level of plasma endothelins was higher in diabetes mellitus patients than that of the controls (P < 0.05), which was even higher in diabetic retinopathy (P < 0.01). After treatment with doxium, the plasma endothelins level decreased significantly (P < 0.01).