Serum glycosidases in diabetes mellitus in relation to the retinopathy and to the length of the disease.

The following glycosidase activities in sera have been studied: alpha-D-mannosidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosaminidase, alpha-D-galactosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-glucosidase, beta-D-glucosidase and beta-D-fucosidase, in diabetic patients in relation to the presence of microangiopathy, evident by retinopathy, and to the length of the disease. A significant increase of all the enzyme activities, except for alpha-D-galactosidase was found. These elevations were independent of the development of retinopathy and the duration of the diabetic process.