Diabetic retinopathy: Monitoring of the macro and microrheological parameters after oral administration of a single dose of calcium dobesilate (Doxium ® )

Abstract

In a group of 19 type 2 diabetics complicated by non-proliferative retinopathy, we evaluated, at baseline and after oral administration of 1 g. of calcium dobesilate, whole-blood filterability, red cell membrane fluidity (using pyrene as probe) and fluidity gradient (employing fluorescent fatty acids as probes). From the data obtained after administration of calcium dobesilate, we observed an increase in whole-blood filterability and in red cell membrane fluidity. No variation instead was evident for the fluidity gradient. These findings, even if preliminary, may be indicative of the microrheological action of this molecule.