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Higher serum hemoglobin level adversely affects corneal epithelial barrier function
Patients with diabetes with a higher serum hemoglobin level are more predisposed to impaired barrier function in the corneal epithelium than patients with lower serum levels, according to a study.
Mamomu Gekka, MD, and colleagues at the Miyata Eye Hospital in Miyazaki, Japan, measured the corneal epithelial permeability of 29 eyes of 29 patients with diabetes and 55 eyes of 55 control subjects using a recently developed anterior fluorophotometer. Average fluorescein concentrations were compared between the two groups.
The average fluorescein concentration in the group with diabetes was 44.1 ng/mL. Average fluorescein concentration in the nondiabetic group was 29.9 ng/mL.
The authors noted that an explanatory variable relevant to the impaired corneal epithelium barrier function was the serum hemoglobin A1c concentration, which was higher in those with impaired barrier function of the epithelium.
The study is published in the January issue of Cornea.