Serum inflammatory marker levels in serous macular detachment secondary to diabetic macular edema

To evaluate the serum inflammatory marker levels in serous macular detachment (SMD) secondary to diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients with DME were divided into two groups according to the presence of SMD. Group 1 consisted of 40 patients with SMD, Group 2 consisted of 40 patients without SMD, and Group 3 consisted of 40 healthy subjects. Neutrophil and mean platelet volume (MPV) were obtained from blood samples. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) were calculated. In Group 1 and 2 sub-group analysis was done according to grade of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the results were analyzed in these subgroups.

The neutrophils, MPV, NLR, and SII levels were significantly higher in Group 1 (p = 0.000, p = 0.004, p = 0.000, p = 0.001, respectively). In subgroup analysis; the neutrophils, NLR, and SII levels were significantly higher in patients with proliferative DR (p = 0.044, p = 0.046, p = 0.046, respectively) and the SII levels were significantly higher in patients with severe nonproliferative DR in Group 1 (p = 0.039). The mean CMT values were 548.8 ± 138.3 µm in Group 1 and 420.1 ± 112.7 µm in Group 2. The CMT values were significantly higher in Group 1 (p: 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation between the CMT values and the systemic inflamatuar markers levels (p>0.05) in both of the groups.

NLR and SII levels were significantly higher in DME with SMD, especially in advanced cases. Elevated serum inflammatory markers might be associated with a higher incidence of SMD.