BMJ  2006;332:1272-1273 (27 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1272-b

Letter

Lipid lowering drugs in diabetes

Lipid lowering has ophthalmic benefits

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Lipid lowering treatment in diabetes has ophthalmic benefits.¹ Diabetic maculopathy is a common cause of loss of sight in diabetic patients and is characterised by retinal oedema and lipid exudates. The use of atorvastatin in diabetic maculopathy has recently been shown in a randomised controlled trial to decrease visible lipid exudates and also to have a positive effect on the visual outcome of affected patients.² This study also confirmed that exudates may reduce or resorb within weeks of starting statin treatment and even before or without the need for argon laser photocoagulation, and this has been our experience also. The Wisconsin epidemiologic study of diabetic retinopathy first identified an association between elevated serum cholesterol and hard exudates.³ This was confirmed in the early treatment diabetic retinopathy study,⁴ and the FIELD study showed a 30% reduction in laser interventions required in type 2 diabetic patients receiving fenofibrate versus the . . . [Full text of this article]

drhitensheth@yahoo.co.uk, Department of Ophthalmology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH

Department of Ophthalmology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH

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