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) (pw0.05). 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.