Plasma homocysteine levels are associated with macular thickness in type 2 diabetes without diabetic macular edema.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationships between macular thickness and the plasma concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and other known risk factors for patients with diabetes without diabetic macular edema (DME).

METHODS

Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 252 subjects (126 relatively healthy subjects with type 2 diabetes without diabetic macular edema and 126 age- and gender-matched controls). Measurement of macular thickness and volume was performed for those subjects using SD-OCT. The plasma concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and other known risk factors were analyzed in all the patients and controls using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

An increase in the serum levels of homocysteine was present within patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy individuals. The mean total plasma homocysteine levels were associated with a greater central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), average macular thickness (AMT), and average macular volume (AMV) in patients with type 2 diabetes without DME, after adjusting for age, sex, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c. Each 1 mmol/L increase in tHcy level was associated with a 6.57 µm greater CSMT (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78, 11.36), a 4.51 µm greater AMT (95% CI 1.05, 7.98), and a 4.72 mm3 greater AMV (95% CI 1.23, 8.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher homocysteine levels were associated with an increased CSMT, AMT, and AMV in diabetic patients without DME. This link may indicate that patients with type 2 diabetes with increased levels of plasma tHcy are more prone to develop a clinical manifestation of DME.