Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and retinal vascular calibre in type 2 diabetes

Brazionis L, Yau J, Rowley K, Itsiopoulos C, O'Dea K, Wong TY, Jenkins A (2010) Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and retinal vascular calibre in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 87:192-199

OBJECTIVE: To describe relationships of retinal vascular calibre with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and other cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We recruited 112 community-based persons aged 44-83years with type 2 diabetes, photo-documented retinal status using a digital fundus camera, and measured traditional and novel vascular risk factors. Retinal arteriolar and venular calibre and the arterio-venous ratio (AVR) were determined from fundus photographs using a validated computer-assisted method. RESULTS: In adjusted linear regression models, PAI-1 activity was strongly associated with all measures of retinal vascular calibre: positively with arterioles (p=0.005) and AVR (p=0.001), and inversely with venules (p=0.001). In addition, wider arterioles were independently associated with waist-hip ratio (p<0.0001), hdl-c="" (p="0.015)," and="" lower="" systolic="" blood="" pressure="" (p="0.042)," whereas="" narrower="" venules="" were="" associated="" with="" older="" age="" and="" a="" higher="" albumin="" excretion="" rate.="" neither="" arteriolar="" nor="" venular="" calibre="" was="" associated="" with="" plasma="" total="" homocysteine="" or="" c-reactive="" protein="" concentration.="" conclusion:="" retinal="" vascular="" calibre="" is="" independently="" associated="" with="" pai-1="" activity="" in="" type="" 2="" diabetes.="" this="" finding="" supports="" a="" role="" for="" pai-1="" activity="" in="" the="" microvasculature="" of="" persons="" with="" type="" 2="" diabetes="" and="" may="" explain="" the="" link="" between="" retinal="" vascular="" calibre="" and="" cardiovascular="">