Association between plasma homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the complications occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and is the leading cause of new onset blindness. This study aimed to determine the possible association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the development and progression of DR. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled diabetic patients who referred for ocular consultation from the Diabetes Clinic of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2013. Patients with type 2 DM (n = 156) were randomly assigned to evaluate the association between Hcy and DR. Participants were randomly divided into two groups; with or without DR. Patients in both groups were matched for confounding factors. Detection and grading of retinopathy was performed by indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay and fasting plasma Hcy levels measured by chromatography. Plasma Hcy more than 15 µmol/l was defined as hyperhomocysteinemia. RESULTS: The results showed that there were no significant differences in Hcy levels in diabetic patients with or without retinopathy. Also, we found that there was no association between HbA1c level and plasma Hcy. In addition, data analysis indicates that no association was observed between disease duration and Hcy levels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that there was not a significant association between plasma Hcy level and DR in patients with type II DM.