Serum Pentraxin 3 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as Early Predictors of Diabetic Retinopathy

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major factor contributing to blindness due to vitreo-retinal diseases in the form of diabetic retinopathy (DR) with high prevalence in India.Association of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), which is released by endothelial cells, fibroblasts, monocytes in inflammation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which favors the proteolysis of the basement membrane critical for angiogenesis resulting in proliferative retinopathy, have been reported in few studies in patients of DR.Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the utility of PTX3 and VEGF as early predictors of DR.Methodology: In a single-center case-control study, 80 type 2 DM patients of more than 5 years duration were divided into two groups of with and without DR.Diabetic retinopathy group was classified, as per Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study retinopathy severity scale, into proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) groups.Detailed history was taken, examinations were carried out, and blood samples were taken for metabolic evaluation, including serum PTX3 and VEGF.Results: The mean levels of serum PTX3 and VEGF were significantly higher in DR vs without DR (p < 0.01) and in PDR vs NPDR subgroup, with p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively.The cutoff levels of PTX3 and VEGF for diagnosis of DR were 4.39 ng/mL (sensitivity: 75%) and 301.78 ng/L (sensitivity: 97%) and for differentiating PDR vs NPDR were found to be 5.2 ng/mL (sensitivity: 77%) and 457.3 ng/L (sensitivity: 88%).Conclusions: Serum PTX3 and VEGF levels are promising biomarkers as screening tools for DR.