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

PURPOSE: 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.