RARITY OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY IN PATIENTS WITH ACROMEGALY

Acromegalic patients (44) were studied with the use of fluorescein angiography to detect the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Elements of diabetic retinopathy were found in only 1 patient (2.2%). The average patient had a growth hormone concentration of 32 ng/ml (range, 1-275 ng/ml) for a duration of 10.5 yr (range, 3-26 yr). Forty-five percent (20) of the group had glucose intolerance and 14% (6) had elevated fasting blood glucose levels for an average duration of 2 yr (range, 1-4 yr). Diabetic retinopathy apparently is an uncommon finding in patients with acromegaly and fluorescein angiography may not reveal cases that were not detected by conventional funduscopic examination.