The frequency of preclical nephropathy in patients of type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy

Objective: to determine the frequency of preclinical nephropathy n patents with diabetic retinopathy and its correlation to the severity of retinopathy. study design: prospective case study. place and duration of study: department of ophthalmology,military hospital (mh),rawalpindi for six months methods: ninety (90) diabetic patients (thirty in each grade of retinopathy i.e. background,preproliferative and proliferative) with no know renal dysfunction were included in the study. they were investigated for albumin/creatinine ratio of a spot urine sample. the outcome of renal function was described as either positive or negative. the cutoff value for albumin creatinine ratio was 300 mg/g. the various grades of retinopathy were compared to the values of urine albumin creatinine ratio,to find the correlation. results: five (17%) patients with background diabetic retinopathy had preclinical nephropathy. seventeen (60%) patients with preprofliferative diabetic retinopathy and 27 (90%) of patients with proliferate diabetic retinopathy had preclinical nephropathy. the frequency of nephropathy correlated to the severity of retinopathy (correlation co efficient,r value:0.630) and p value of <0.001. conclusion: it is important for ophthalmologists to carefully consider the renal status of any patient with retinopathy as this can influence the progression of retinopathy and s response to treatment.