Abstract

MACIQUES RODRIGUEZ, Juana Elvira; GARCIA FERRER, Laine; SANTANA PEREZ, Felipe  and  LICEA PUIG, Manuel E.. Evaluation of proliferative diabetic retinopathy after laser treatment. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2007, vol.18, n.3. ISSN 1561-2953.

Laser photocoagulation (panphotocoagulation) is an absolute indication in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) without or with characteristics of high risk for severe visual loss. This study was undertaken at the Diabetic Care Center of the Institute of Endocrinology from January 2004 to December 2005 in order to evaluate this treatment in PDR. 120 patients with PDR that were photocoagulated were studied. The studied variables were: age, sex, time of evolution of diabetes and presence of arterial hypertension and/or neuropathy. An ophthalmologic examination was made, and visual acuity and the retinopathy staging were compared before and after the treatment. Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis. The advanced form of PDR was found in patients with more than 20 years of evolution of the disease. After the treatment, PDR without high risk characteristics predominated in females (38.1 %), whereas PDR with high risk characteristics prevailed in males (38.9 %). 11 patients passed to the form of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Arterial hypertension and diabetic nephropathy predominated   in the PDR with high risk characteristics and in advanced PDR. It was concluded that the most severe form of DR was associated with a longer time of evolution. Arterial hypertension and nephropathy are risk factors connected with the most severe forms of DR.  Photocoagulation does not improve vision in a significant way, but it stops the progression   of retinopathy, and it is capable of modifying severity, reaching nonproliferative forms.

Keywords : Proliferative diabetic retinopathy; laser; photocoagulation.