06 Jul Diabetic Macular Edema Linked To Hyperlipidemia

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Ruth Hogg, Lecturer
Centre for Experimental Medicine (formerly Centre for Vision and Vascular Science)
Institute of Clinical Science Block
Belfast Northern Ireland

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Hogg: The development of Diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients with diabetes can result in severe visual loss.  Understanding the factors driving the development of these conditions is important for developing effective treatments.  The role of lipids has been suggested by previous studies however as the evidence overall appeared to have significant uncertainty we decided to undertake a systematic review and where possible perform a meta-analysis or results.

The study revealed that the evidence of a relationship between blood lipid levels and Diabetic macular edema from cohort and case control studies was strong but evidence from the randomised control trials (RCTs) was weak.  The RCTS evaluated however were often not designed to look at Diabetic macular edema as an primary outcome, and this was often part of a secondary analysis leaving uncertainty over the power to detect the association. 

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Hogg: Improved control of total cholesterol/ high density lipoprotein and Triglyceride levels in patients with Diabetic macular edema or at risk for Diabetic macular edema should be considered either through improved dietary control or use of an appropriate lipid lowering therapy.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Hogg: An appropriately designed randomized control trial should be undertaken to determine the impact of lipid lowering therapy in Diabetic macular edema.

Citation:

Dyslipidemia and Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Presented in part as a paper at: the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Meeting, May 4–8, 2014, Orlando, Florida.

Radha Das, MS, FRCS, Rebecca Kerr, BSc,Usha Chakravarthy, FRCOphth, PhD Ruth E. Hogg, BSc, PhD

Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.05.011

Dr Ruth Hogg, Lecturer, & Centre for Experimental Medicine (2015). Diabetic Macular Edema Linked To Hyperlipidemia 

Last Updated on July 6, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD