Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
Relationship between serum cystatin C and diabetic retinopathy in T2DM patients
Qiuqi Gui1,2, Kunhua Jiang2, Yuxin Xu1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Objective:
Cystatin C (CysC), as a crucial and sensitive indicator for renal function, has gradually drawn attention for its role in diabetic complications. This study aims to investigate the association between serum CysC levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Method:
This cross-sectional study enrolled 818 individuals with type 2 diabetes, including 227 DR patients and 591 patients without DR. All subjects underwent detailed clinical evaluations, including blood glucose, lipid, renal function indicators, and fundus examinations. Logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the correlation between CysC and DR.
Results:
The serum CysC levels in DR patients was significantly higher than those of the controls (p < 0.001). Besides, CysC was negatively correlated with fasting glucose (r = -0.080), TC (r = -0.090), HDL-C (r = -0.107), and albumin (r = -0.222) (all p < 0.05). Compared to the 1st tertile of CysC, the prevalence of DR was increased in the 3rd CysC tertile (OR = 2.14, 95%CI: 1.20-3.82, p = 0.01). This association was more obvious in patients with a long duration of diabetes exceeding 10 years or in non-elderly patients.
Conclusion:
Patients with higher serum CysC levels have an elevated risk of DR in the T2DM population. Future large-scale studies should explore the potential mechanism of CysC in DR and evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

