Abstract
Background: Diabetic dermopathy is one of the most prevalent skin complications in diabetes
patients. Some studies have pointed to association of diabetic dermopathy with retinopathy
and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes as microangiopathy presentations, but no
rigorous study has been conducted to confirm this association.
Objectives: This study investigated association of diabetic dermopathy with nephropathy and
retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes referring specialty clinic of Shahrekord.
Patients and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 102
type 2 diabetes patients with dermopathy referring clinic constantly or as outpatient.
Dermatological and ophthalmological examinations and examination for nephropathy were
done for all patients. Demographic data and results of examinations and patients history,
and biochemical tests were gathered and recorded by researcher developed checklists.
Results: Mean age of patients was 83.8 2.60 years, of whom 64 (63.7%) were female and
37.3% were male. Prevalence of retinopathy in patients was 4.31% and nephropathy 3.33%.
In this study, significant associations of diabetic dermopathy with diabetic nephropathy
(P = 0.001), with retinopathy (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), duration of diabetes (P = 0.001),
and also with glycosylated hemoglobin (P < 0.01) was detected. No significant association
between diabetic dermopathy and other studied variables was seen (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Results of this study confirm the association of diabetic dermopathy with
retinopathy and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Since dermopathy is usually
developed before retinopathy and nephropathy, dermopathy could be used as a clinical
finding in early diagnosis and prevention of retinopathy and nephropathy in diabetes
patients.