Relationship between serum soluble E‐selectin levels and development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective. To investigate whether diabetic retinopathy is associated with serum soluble E‐selectin (ssE‐selectin) level in type 2 diabetic patients. Material and methods. Fifty‐six patients with type 2 diabetes classified as Groups A, B, C and D according to grade of retinopathy were enrolled in the study. Sixteen age‐ and gender‐matched healthy control subjects were also enrolled. Levels of ssE‐selectin were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in all patients and control subjects. Clinical characteristics and ssE‐selectin levels were compared between the groups. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in ssE‐selectin levels between diabetic patients and non‐diabetic control subjects (p>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference in levels of ss E‐selectin between diabetic subgroups (Groups A, B, C, D) (p>0.05). No correlation was found between ssE‐selectin level and HbA1c, or duration of diabetes in the whole group of diabetic patients (r = 0.10, p>0.05 and r = −0.12, p>0.05, respectively). Conclusions. The study shows that no significant elevation of ssE‐selectin occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison with control subjects. Our results also indicate that there is no statistically significant correlation between ssE‐selectin level and the development or grade of diabetic retinopathy.

• Retinopathy
• serum soluble E‐selectin
• type 2 diabetes mellitus