Serum levels of interlukin-6, C-reactive protein in diabetic patients and their relation to progression of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the relationship of serum level changes of IL-6, C-RP with retinopathy in two groups of type 2 diabetic patients (with and without retinopathy) in addition to control groups.

Method and material : The study was conducted from December 2012 to March 2013.

On well controlled thirty five patients of type 2 diabetic retinopathy (group one) (23 male and 12 female) with age range (41-75) years.

Thirty patients of diabetes without clinical retinopathy (group two) (15 male and 15 female) with age range from (40-75) years were included in this study ; duration of diabetes is more than five years in both groups.

Disposable syringes and needles were used for blood collection.

Blood samples (5ml) were obtained from diabetic patients and control groups by vein puncture.

About one ml of whole blood put in EDTA tube for estimation of HbA1c, the remaining blood samples were allowed to clot at room temperature, and then centrifuged at 3000 Xg for 10 minutes.

Sera were transferred carefully and stored at-17°C until analysis time in suitable serum tubes.

Statistical analysis : The results were analyzed using Anova and student's t-test.

Statistical analysis was carried out using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS version 10).

A p value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results : The mean sera level of IL-6 was found to be significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in DR as compared with the control group.

On the other hand, no significant variations were detected in the levels of the IL-6 in the group of DNR with respect to the control group.

C-RP level was found significantly elevated (p < 0.01) in patients with DR when compared with control individual, while there was no significant variation of the serum levels of C-RP in DNR (p = N.

S.) and control group.

Conclusion : Patients with increase serum levels of IL-6 and C-RP need more intensive ophthalmological examination to detect early retinal changes in aim of providing early management of diabetic retinopathy.