BACKGROUND: The increase of platelet aggregation, plasma and whole blood viscosity and the decrease of red cell deformability in patients with diabetes mellitus may be causative in the development of retinopathy. A therapy influencing these factors maybe prevents retinopathy or slows progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a clinical and prospective study over 2 years 74 patients aged 20 to 69 years with a mild background retinopathy were randomly assigned to take oral 3 x 500 mg calcium dobesilate (Doxium) or no therapy. Both groups did neither differ in demographic nor in laboratory data. In fluorescein angiography following characteristics of retinopathy were graded: microaneurysms, size and outline of foveal avascular zone, capillary loss and severity of dye leakage. Additionally in 15 patients contrastsensitivity, visual fields and oscillatory potentials were investigated. RESULTS: The results of the fluorescein angiographical characteristics revealed no statistically significant difference between both groups. In the oscillatory potentials a significant shortening of latency could be found in both groups, but there was no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: A 2-years application of calcium dobesilate has no statistically significant influence on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
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BACKGROUND: The increase of platelet aggregation, plasma and whole blood viscosity and the decrease of red cell deformability in patients with diabetes mellitus may be causative in the development of retinopathy. A therapy influencing these factors maybe prevents retinopathy or slows progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a clinical and prospective study over 2 years 74 patients aged 20 to 69 years with a mild background retinopathy were randomly assigned to take oral 3 x 500 mg calcium dobesilate (Doxium) or no therapy. Both groups did neither differ in demographic nor in laboratory data. In fluorescein angiography following characteristics of retinopathy were graded: microaneurysms, size and outline of foveal avascular zone, capillary loss and severity of dye leakage. Additionally in 15 patients contrast sensitivity, visual fields and oscillatory potentials were investigated. RESULTS: The results of the fluorescein angiographical characteristics revealed no statistically significant difference between both groups. In the oscillatory potentials a significant shortening of latency could be found in both groups, but there was no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: A 2-years application of calcium dobesilate has no statistically significant influence on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Authors: Maria L Ribeiro; Andras I Seres; Angela M Carneiro; Michael Stur; Alain Zourdani; Patricia Caillon; José G Cunha-Vaz Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2006-12 Impact factor: 3.117