Vascular endothelial growth factor,interleukin 6 and leptin in the serum and vitreous fluid of type 2 diabetic patients

Objectives: to determine the relationship of different stages of diabetic retinopathy with the vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf),interleukin-6 (il-6) and leptin in the serum and vitreous fluid of type 2 diabetic patients. material and methods: in this cross sectional analytical study carried out during 2010-2011 in al-shifa trust eye hospital,rawalpindi and three tertiary hospital of peshawar,86 adult type 2 diabetic patients with different grades of retinopathy (no retinopathy,non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy) and 40 non-diabetic non-retinopathic subjects of both sexes were recruited and evaluated for serum and vitreous levels of vegf,il-6 and leptin. results: serum vegf,il-6 and leptin concentrations and vitreous levels of vegf and il-6 were significantly and progressively greater in all grades of retinopathy as compared to normal controls. females had comparatively more concentration of this factor than males. conclusion: significantly raised levels of vegf and il-6 in both serum and vitreous fluid and of leptin only in the serum are found in patients with diabetic retinopathy. knowledge about these levels may be a helpful tool to a clinician in assessing the onset and progression of retinopathy for taking preventive and therapeutic measures.