Current trends in diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Introduction: diabetic retinopathy is a microangiopathic disease, characterized by loss of pericytes and thickening of the basement membrane, secondary to prolonged hyperglycemia and associated with genetic factors. A worldwide prevalence of 40 % and an incidence of 90 % after 30 years, and 50 % at 10 years of suffering from diabetes are estimated. This condition causes 8 % blindness cases among diabetic patients, and is its first cause after 65 years of age.

Objective: to present current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: the articles published on this topic in the PubMed, SciELO, Cumed, ClinicalKey, LILACS, EBSCO databases and in the Google Scholar search engine were reviewed. Works published during the last five years, in English and Spanish, were selected.

Development: the pathophysiological alterations of diabetic retinopathy are hematological and biochemical. They include platelet adhesiveness, increased erythrocyte aggregation, lipid abnormalities, fibrinolysis defects, abnormal growth hormone concentrations, vascular endothelial growth factor activation, as well as alterations in serum viscosity. Current treatment is mainly based on glycemic control, panretinal photocoagulation with diffuse pattern or grid yellow-green light pars plana vitrectomy, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, depending on the stage of the disease.

Conclusions: the application of new trends in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease will allow a better expectation and quality of life for patients