The relationship of retinal microaneurysm counts to the 4-year progression of diabetic retinopathy
R. Klein, S. M. Meuer, S. E. Moss and B. E. Klein
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53792.
The relationship of retinal microaneurysms to the progression of diabetic
retinopathy over a 4-year period was examined in a population-based sample
of diabetic persons. The number of microaneurysms in color stereoscopic
fundus photographs of seven standard fields was counted in the eyes of
diabetic persons (n = 236) who had only microaneurysms in photographs at
the baseline examination. If only one eye was involved (n = 121), the mean
number of microaneurysms was 2.3; with bilateral involvement (n = 115), the
mean was 9.3 in the more involved eye. The number of microaneurysms at the
baseline examination was positively associated with significant progression
of retinopathy. This relationship remained after controlling for the level
of glycosylated hemoglobin. These data suggest that the number of
microaneurysms at baseline is an important predictor of progression of
diabetic retinopathy. Microaneurysm counts may prove to be a useful early
end point in clinical trials.
