Diabetic retinopathy as a sentinel of systemic vascular dysfunction: Shared molecular mechanisms with cardiovascular disease

Severe diabetic retinopathy (DR) increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

• Diabetic retinopathy and cardiovascular disease are interconnected complications of diabetes.
• Common mechanisms include oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.
• Advanced glycation end-products and their receptors are activated, contributing to vascular damage.
• Therapies targeting these pathways may slow DR progression and reduce CVD events.
• Multidisciplinary strategies that integrate retinal screening with CVD management may enhance patient care.
• Further research is needed to clarify causality and improve risk assessment tools.

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