Background: The aim was to examine blood flow velocity and vascular resistance in retrobulbar arteries in young type-1 diabetes (DM-1) patients. Statistical relationships between blood flow parameters and serum lipid levels (TCH, HDL, LDL, TG, ApoB) were also determined.
Material/methods: Fifty-two eyes with diabetic angiopathy were examined (average age: 18.54 years). Color Doppler imaging (CDI) was performed in the ophthalmic (OA), central retinal (CRA), and temporal posterior ciliary (TPCA) arteries. The parameters PSV, EDV, MV, PI, and RI were compared with those of a control group (46 eyes). The Student's t, Shapiro-Wilk, and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests were used (p< or =0.01 and p< or =0.05 were considered significant).
Results: Significant decreases in PSV, MV, PI, and RI in the OA, CRA, and TPCA and negative correlations between TCH, LDL, and ApoB and decreased PI and RI in the OA as well as positive correlations between these parameters and EDV in the OA were found. Increased ApoB correlated with decreased PI and RI in the TPCA. There were no significant relationships between TG and HDL and the blood flow parameters. Elevated levels of HbA1c and dyslipidemia were confirmed.
Conclusions: CDI is an effective method for detecting retinochoroidal circulation disorders in the early stage of diabetic angiopathy. The alterations in retrobulbar blood flow were characterized by significant decreases in PSV, MV, and RI in the CRA and PSV, MV, PI, and RI in the TPCA. Dysregulation of TCH, LDL, and ApoB was associated with vascular resistance fluctuation, mainly in the OA.