Serum glycosidases in diabetes mellitus in relation to the retinopathy and to the length of the disease

Abstract The following glycosidase activities in sera have been studied: α- d -mannosidase, β- d -glucuronidase, N -acetyl-β- d -galactosaminidase, α- d -galactosidase, β- d -galactosidase, α- d -glucosidase, β- d -glucosidase and β- d -fucosidase, in diabetic patients in relation to the presence of microangiopathy, evident by retinopathy, and to the length of the disease. A significant increase of all the enzyme activities, except for α- d -galactosidase was found. These elevations were independent of the development of retinopathy and the duration of the diabetic process.