Abstract
AIMS: Investigation of retinal vasodilation under flickering light is considered
a dynamic analysis in contrast to the static analysis of retinal vessel
equivalents (mean retinal vessel diameter). We investigated whether dynamic
analysis apart from the static one in type 1 diabetic patients without diabetic
retinopathy with well-controlled diabetes could lead to additional information
regarding retinal autoregulation. METHODS: 18 normotensive type 1 diabetic
patients without retinopathy and 19 healthy subjects were included. Diameter of
retinal vessels was measured with Dynamic Vessel Analyzer. Changes in
vasodilation are expressed as percent change over baseline values. RESULTS:
HbA(1c) was 7.5+/-1.0\% in diabetic patients. In arteries, the response to flicker
was diminished in diabetic patients compared to healthy volunteers (p<0.023). In
patients flicker stimulation increased arterial diameter by +2.7\% in contrast to
+4.4\% in controls. Venous vessel diameter increased by +3.1\% in diabetic
individuals and by +5.3\% in the control group (p<0.002). There were no
differences in static analysis between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic
patients without retinopathy with relatively good glycemic control show reduced
retinal vasodilation after flicker indicating dysfunction in retinal
autoregulation. The use of provocation test in conjunction with static analysis
could lead to additional information regarding abnormal retinal autoregulation.
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