Biomaterial Database

Does aldose reductase have a role in the development of the ocular complications of diabetes? 1993

S Lightman

Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.

Diabetes mellitus has an effect on many organ systems including the eye, kidney and peripheral nerve. Many of these complications develop in animal models of diabetes, which has allowed some of the mechanisms of damage in target organs to be studied. Aldose reductase, an intracellular enzyme, converts glucose to sorbitol, and it is the intracellular accumulation of sorbitol which is thought to result in irreversible damage. In the diabetic eye the increased sorbitol accumulation in both the lens and the retina has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cataract and retinopathy, the major ocular complications of diabetes. In those experimental models which demonstrate characteristic diabetic complications, pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme aldose reductase has resulted in prevention of target organ damage. This paper summarises the experimental evidence upon which the clinical trials of aldose reductase inhibitors in diabetic patients have been initiated and the results of published drug trials in these patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007093	Imidazoles	Compounds containing 1,3-diazole, a five membered aromatic ring containing two nitrogen atoms separated by one of the carbons. Chemically reduced ones include IMIDAZOLINES and IMIDAZOLIDINES. Distinguish from 1,2-diazole (PYRAZOLES).
D007908	Lens, Crystalline	A transparent, biconvex structure of the EYE, enclosed in a capsule and situated behind the IRIS and in front of the vitreous humor (VITREOUS BODY). It is slightly overlapped at its margin by the ciliary processes. Adaptation by the CILIARY BODY is crucial for OCULAR ACCOMMODATION.	Eye Lens,Lens, Eye,Crystalline Lens
D010793	Phthalazines	Bicyclic heterocyclic compounds containing a BENZENE ring fused to PYRIDAZINE.
D002386	Cataract	Partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. The many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Cataract, Membranous,Lens Opacities,Pseudoaphakia,Cataracts,Cataracts, Membranous,Lens Opacity,Membranous Cataract,Membranous Cataracts,Opacities, Lens,Opacity, Lens,Pseudoaphakias
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D003316	Corneal Diseases	Diseases of the cornea.	Corneal Disease,Disease, Corneal,Diseases, Corneal
D003921	Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental	Diabetes mellitus induced experimentally by administration of various diabetogenic agents or by PANCREATECTOMY.	Alloxan Diabetes,Streptozocin Diabetes,Streptozotocin Diabetes,Experimental Diabetes Mellitus,Diabete, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Alloxan,Diabetes, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Streptozotocin,Streptozocin Diabete
D003930	Diabetic Retinopathy	Disease of the RETINA as a complication of DIABETES MELLITUS. It is characterized by the progressive microvascular complications, such as ANEURYSM, interretinal EDEMA, and intraocular PATHOLOGIC NEOVASCULARIZATION.	Diabetic Retinopathies,Retinopathies, Diabetic,Retinopathy, Diabetic
D004195	Disease Models, Animal	Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases.	Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man