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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Characterization of a Novel Human Organotypic Retinal Culture Technique
Published on: June 9, 2021
Relationship between Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes in
Laura Gomes Nunes Melo1, Paulo Henrique Morales2, Karla Rezende Guerra Drummond3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lauragnmelo@gmail.com.
Introduction:
This study examined the relationship between proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and serum levels of C-reactive protein, VEGF, TNF-α, and IL-6 inflammatory biomarkers, related to the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy.
Methods:
This cross-sectional, case control study comprised 240 patients with type 1 diabetes (80 cases with PDR and 160 controls without diabetic retinopathy) who were matched for gender and duration of diabetes.
Results:
C-reactive protein was the only inflammatory biomarker that was positively related to PDR (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.01-3.78, p = 0.0045). We also noted an association between high glycated hemoglobin levels, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, low glomerular filtration rate, and PDR.
Conclusion:
Patients with higher levels of C-reactive protein are more likely to present with PDR. We did not find a link between serum levels of VEGF, TNF-α, or IL-6 and PDR. The function of inflammatory biomarkers in PDR must be addressed in further studies.
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