The hallmark high glucose of the disease causes inflammation that produces free radicals that cause inflammation that produces more free radicals, explains Dr. Manuela Bartoli, vision scientist at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.
If that's not bad enough, the body's endogenous system for dealing with free radicals also is dramatically impacted by diabetes, said Bartoli, who recently received a $1.8 million grant from the National Eye Institute to try to bolster that system and interrupt the destructive cycle.
Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Foundation, and nearly half those individuals will develop diabetic retinopathy, according to the National Eye Institute.
Culprit free radicals are actually normal byproducts of the body's constant use of oxygen and, despite their derivative status, also are important signaling molecules in the body. Problems result when there are too many, like in diabetes, and their natural tendency to bond starts wreaking havoc on cells and DNA. In fact, excessive levels are thought to be a major contributor to a wide variety of diseases as well as aging.
"As the ancients said: 'The eyes are the mirror of the soul.' We also know that whatever happens in the eye is an expression of what is happening in the rest of the body," Bartoli said. "We want to better understand the causes of inflammation in the eye in diabetes and find better ways to manage it as well as byproducts such as uric acid. Ultimately, of course, we hope to protect sight."
More on this story here.
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1 comment:
They are definitely onto something here as I know from my own experience. Anti-inflammatory injections {steroid} were the only thing that worked for me after rosiglitazone had produced its typical inflammation around the chest and elsewhere and caused macular oedema. Such a study is long overdue. In the US because of the fear of litigation injections other than lucentis are not covered by insurance. I would be blind if my consultant had taken his view. Steroid injections allowed me the time to sort out my bg levels while keeping the condition under control. Eventually the steroids did cause glaucoma but this was treated very easily and quickly. Unfortunately he is not allowed to use this treatment on me in the future.
I was totally disgusted by the reaction of some of his colleagues who were rubbing their hands wih glee at this outcome. They would obviously have allowed me to lose my sight 5 years ago. This same consultant also championed the use of avastin rather than the far more expensive lucentis . He thought it wrong that individuals and countries which couldn't afford lucentis should suffer unnecessarily. It doesn't work for me but has for many others.
I am not opposed, as some are, to drugs being used in this way if patients are fully informed and there are strict controls. I owe my sight to someone who was prepared to take a chance and to my own readiness to take the risk. For once I was in the right place at the right time. I hope the continued work in his field allows others to benefit as soon as possible.
Kath
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