Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia associated with long-term damage and failure of various organ systems. The retina and the kidney complications of diabetes both are microvascular complications result from damage to small vessels in these organs that may lead to blindness and end-stage renal disease. Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy have a similar pathogenesis, including oxidative stress, massive accumulation of glycation end products, polyol pathway activation, protein kinase C, and genetic factors and also share common clinical risk factors, including age, smoking, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. Studies have shown that the presence of diabetic retinopathy itself may leave patients at risk for diabetic nephropathy and the severity of DR is a risk factor for progression to chronic kidney disease and also diabetic nephropathy is an independent risk factor for the development and progression of DR.
AIM OF THE WORK:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of diabetic kidney disease with diabetic retinopathy in diabetics.