Nargis Parveen, Irfan Zia Qureshi.
Vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin 6 and leptin in the serum and vitreous fluid of type 2 diabetic patients.
J Med Sci Jan ;21(1):40-3.

Objectives: To determine the relationship of different stages of diabetic retinopathy with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and leptin in the serum and vitreous fluid of type 2 diabetic patients. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional analytical study carried out during 2010-2011 in Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi and three tertiary hospital of Peshawar, 86 adult type 2 diabetic patients with different grades of retinopathy (no retinopathy, non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy) and 40 non-diabetic non-retinopathic subjects of both sexes were recruited and evaluated for serum and vitreous levels of VEGF, IL-6 and leptin. Results: Serum VEGF, IL-6 and leptin concentrations and vitreous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly and progressively greater in all grades of retinopathy as compared to normal controls. Females had comparatively more concentration of this factor than males. Conclusion: Significantly raised levels of VEGF and IL-6 in both serum and vitreous fluid and of leptin only in the serum are found in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Knowledge about these levels may be a helpful tool to a clinician in assessing the onset and progression of retinopathy for taking preventive and therapeutic measures.

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