The Relation of Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction to the Prevalence and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract
Data from epidemiological studies and clinical trials have shown associations of hemoglobin A1c level, blood pressure, and serum total cholesterol level with the prevalence, incidence, and progression of retinopathy.1-6 However, these factors only explain a small proportion of the presence and 14-year cumulative progression of retinopathy (R2 = 9%) and incidence of proliferative retinopathy in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus (R2 = 10%) (R.K., unpublished data from the 14-year follow-up of the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy cohort, February 1995 to June 1996).