Studies on Salicylates and Complement in Diabetes

Increased levels of complement have been found in diabetic patients, being often more marked in young patients with proliferative retinopathy. Neither duration of diabetes nor the giving of insulin was associated with any particular alteration of complement levels. Acetylsalicylic acid was effective in suppressing complement in vitro in all instances, but to a greater extent in the younger, more severely affected patients.

These findings are discussed and related to mechanisms in production of retinopathy.