Vascular Endothelial Cell Antibodies in Diabetic Patients: Association With Diabetic Retinopathy

Objectives To determine the incidence of antiendothelial cell antibodies in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Research Design and Methods The study consisted of 70 insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) subjects, 36 non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) subjects, and 40 nondiabetic control subjects. Blood samples were obtained from diabetic patients and control subjects and patients with background and proliferative retinopathy were identified. Results Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) antibodies were examined in the sera of 36 NIDDM subjects, 70 IDDM subjects, and 40 nondiabetic control subjects by indirect immunofluorescence. VEC antibodies were present in 5 of 40 (12%) control subjects, 7 of 23 (30%) newly diagnosed IDDM patients, 6 of 17 (35%) IDDM patients without retinopathy, 12 of 18 (67%) IDDM patients with background retinopathy ( P P P Conclusions Antibodies directed against vascular endothelial cells may play a role in the development of microvascular, and possibly macrovascular, disease in diabetes.