Omentin-1 and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common and serious micro vascular complication affecting type 2 diabetic patients.

The literature on adipokines as a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of DR is contradictory.

We are in need for more explanation about the pathogenesis of DR and also in need for reliable biomarker for early diagnosis of such complication.

The aim of this work was to study the serum level of omentin-1 and its relation to diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM).

Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 75 type 2 DM patients; 20 healthy subjects served as a control group. All participants were classified into 4 groups:

• Group 1: Included 25 type 2 diabetics without retinopathy.
• Group 2: Included 25 type 2 diabetics with non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDPR).
• Group 3: Included 25 type 2 diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). 
• Group 4: Included 20 healthy subjects as a control group.

Thorough history taking and physical examination with calculation of body mass index (BMI), investigations were done including serum creatinine, lipid profile, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbAIc), C-reactive protein (CRP), urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) and serum omentin-1. Fundus examination was carried out by an expert ophthalmologist.

Results: Serum omentin-1 level was significantly lower in diabetic patients compared with the control, and in DR compared with diabetics without DR and in PDR compared with NPDR.

There was a negative significant correlation between serum omentin-1 level and BMI, HbA1c, CRP, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and Serum triglycerides (TG) and positive significant correlation with high density lipoprotein (HDL).

Conclusions: From this study we can conclude that serum omentin-1 is significantly lower in patients with DR compared with diabetics without retinopathy and in PDR patients compared with NPDR patients.

Also, there is a negative significant correlation between serum omentin-1 and HbAIc, BMI, CRP and some lipid parameters.

Keywords: Omentin-1, Diabetic retinopathy