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Retinal Failure in Diabetes: a Feature of Retinal Sensory Neuropathy

  • Microvascular Complications—Neuropathy (R Pop-Busui, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Physiologic adaptations mediate normal responses to short-term and long-term stresses to ensure organ function. Organ failure results if adaptive responses fail to resolve persistent stresses or maladaptive reactions develop. The retinal neurovascular unit likewise undergoes adaptive responses to diabetes resulting in a retinal sensory neuropathy analogous to other sensory neuropathies. Vision-threatening diabetic retinal neuropathy results from unremitting metabolic and inflammatory stresses, leading to macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, states of “retinal failure.” Current regulatory strategies focus primarily on the retinal failure stages, but new diagnostic modalities and understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy may facilitate earlier treatment to maintain vision in persons with diabetes.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Summer Biomedical Research Program at the University of Michigan Medical School (EG), EY20852 and DK094292, The Taubman Institute, and a Research to Prevent Blindness Physician-Scientist Award (TG). David Murrel, MFA, created the artwork.

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Conflict of Interest

Ellyn J. Gray declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Thomas W. Gardner reports personal fees from KalVista, Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson, and Janssen and Puretech and other from BetaStem.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Ellyn J. Gray & Thomas W. Gardner

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  1. Ellyn J. Gray
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  2. Thomas W. Gardner
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Correspondence to Thomas W. Gardner.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Microvascular Complications—Neuropathy

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Gray, E.J., Gardner, T.W. Retinal Failure in Diabetes: a Feature of Retinal Sensory Neuropathy. Curr Diab Rep 15, 107 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-015-0683-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-015-0683-5

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