Molecular Imaging of Subclinical Diabetic Retinopathy

Vascular complications of diabetes are the most serious manifestations of the disease, and account for most of its morbidity and mortality. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes. Symptoms of DR are minimal until structural abnormalities are established. Microaneurysms and pericyte loss are found in earlier stages of DR, while capillary non‑perfusion, angiogenesis and vascular leakage mark the more progressed stages of the disease. On a global scale, the escalating health care costs related to diabetic complications threaten to become unmanageable in the foreseeable future. Ideally, early detection of DR before structural injury to the retina would allow treatment before irreversible damage occurs, potentially leading to better prognosis for patients and containment of healthcare costs related to diabetes management.