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Modulation of the renin-angiotensin system and retinopathy
  1. Nish Chaturvedi
  1. The EURODIAB Data Co-ordinating Centre, University College London, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BA, UK
  1. Dr Chaturvedi email: n.chaturvedi{at}ic.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/heart.84.suppl_1.i29

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    Diabetic retinopathy is still the leading cause of blindness in people of working age. It is one of the most common complications of diabetes, affecting 80–100% of type 1 patients and being present at the diagnosis of diabetes in around one third of type 2 patients.

    Pathology

    The earliest detectable lesions of diabetic retinopathy are microaneurysms. These are associated with excessive vascular permeability and result in exudate formation. There is occlusion of the vessels and stimulation of growth factors, which in turn promote the proliferation of new blood vessels and the growth of fibrous tissue. This may contract and lead to haemorrhage. The process of angiogenesis, however, occurs right through the evolution of diabetic retinopathy.

    Treatment

    Until very recently, treatment was confined to relatively late in the pathology of diabetic retinopathy, when there was already some proliferative disease. Photocoagulation has been successful in preventing blindness and, more recently, studies have shown the importance of tight blood glucose control.

    GLYCAEMIC CONTROL

    The diabetes control and complications trial (DCCT) in patients with type 1 diabetes emphasised the importance of tight glycaemic control in reducing the progression of retinopathy and also reducing the incidence of retinopathy (fig 1).1

    Figure 1

    Results of DCCT showing the progression of retinopathy with conventional and intensive treatment to achieve glycaemic control. Reproduced from DCCT Research Group. N Engl J Med 1993;329:977–86. Copyright © 1993. Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

    Importantly, even patients receiving intensive treatment had some progression of retinopathy. Also, it took three years before a clear difference between intensive and conventional treatment was observed. Clearly, while tight glycaemic control is successful, other treatments are still required. There is now strong evidence that agents that modulate the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may be one of these treatments.

    RAS and retinopathy

    A local RAS exists in the eye that is independent of …

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