Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2006

Objective: To study whether microalbuminuria is associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type 2 diabetes. Study design: Cross-sectional analytic study. Setting: Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Nopparatrajathanee Hospital, Mettaphacharak (Watraikhing) Hospital, Prathumthani Hospital, Lardlumkaew Hospital, and Nongsau Hospital. Research methodology: A total of 204 subjects (58 males and 146 females) were included in this study. Using urine dipsticks for microalbuminuria which positive at least 2 of the 3 morning urine samples within 6 months, 68 and 136 type 2 diabetic patients were found micro and normoalbuminuria respectively. Indirect ophthalmology of all subjects' eyes for PDR was performed by expert ophthalmologists. Result: The study finds that 4 subjects with normoalbuminuria and 1 subject with microalbuminuria were PDR. The prevalence of PDR is 2.5%. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria using urine dipstick is not associated cross-sectionaly with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes and it cannot be used as a marker for screening PDR.