Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading risk factors and causes of blindness worldwide. Tight glucose and blood pressure control has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of development as well as the progression of retinopathy and represents the cornerstone of medical management of DR. The two most threatening complications of DR are diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Photocoagulation is standard treatment for both DME and PDR. However, some patients suffer permanent visual loss despite therapy. Treatment with fibrates first showed reduction in hard exudates, an effect subsequently shown with statins in short term studies, in particular two randomized studies in patients with macular edema. In the FIELD study which pre-specified microvascular outcomes, fenofibrate reduced laser treatment for DME or PDR by 31%:164 (3.4%) patients on fenofibrate vs. 238 (4.9%) on placebo (p<0.001). In the ophthalmology sub-study of FIELD, the composite exploratory endpoint of 2-step progression of ETDRS retinopathy grade, macular edema or laser treatment was significantly reduced by 34%: 53 (11.1%) patients on fenofibrate vs. 75 (16.1%) on placebo (p=0.022). Conversely, there was no reduction in laser treatment or reduced progression of retinopathy in two large scale studies of statins where cardiovascular events were significantly reduced. Neither class of lipid-lowering drugs consistently improved visual acuity. In the ACCORD-EYE study, the combination of fenofibrate and simvastatin reduced by 40% the rate of progression of diabetic retinopathy compared with simvastatin alone. Other studies are needed to establish the place of lipid lowering drugs in the treatment of macular edema and the prevention of vision loss.

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Background: In the FIELD trial, a 5-year randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fenofibrate vs. placebo in 9,795 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the only standard lipid parameter correlating with microvascular (renal) events was triglycerides. Given the high prevalence of diabetic microangiopathy, we explored associations between lipoprotein subfractions and nephropathy, retinopathy, microvascular amputations (MiAmp) and neuropathy. Methods: We performed ultracentrifugation using the vertical autoprofile (VAP, Atherotech) on plasma (baseline and after 6 weeks of fenofibrate). Analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression for new on-study events. Results were adjusted for gender and fenofibrate or placebo allocation. Results: HDL related analytes (HDL-C, HDL3-C, apo A1, apoA2) correlated with reduced risk for neuropathy, nephropathy, and MiAmp. Buoyant LDL (LDL1-C) and densest LDL (LDL4-C) correlated negatively with neuropathy and positively for MiAmp, respectively. Triglycerides and apo C3 increased neuropathy and nephropathy risk. VLDL species correlated with increased MiAmp and retinopathy risk. Conclusions: VAP identifies multiple lipoprotein subclasses and VAP subclass/apoprotein ratios associated with diabetic microangiopathy. Many were improved with fenofibrate. Disclosure P.P. Toth: Consultant; Self; Amarin Corporation, Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca, Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe Co. Ltd., Novo Nordisk Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Amarin Corporation, Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi US. A.C. Keech: None. A.S. Januszewski: None. R.L. OConnell: None. L. Li: None. D. Sullivan: None. M. Taskinen: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Consultant; Self; Akcea Therapeutics, Chiesi USA, Inc. Research Support; Self; Amgen Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Amgen Inc. P.L. Drury: None. G.F. Watts: None. J.D. Best: Consultant; Self; Abbott. J. Ansquer: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Mylan. S.R. Jones: None. A.J. Jenkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Australian Diabetes Society, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, GlySens Incorporated, Medtronic, Mylan. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc.