Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Diabetic Retinopathy: Role of Oxidative Stress

Background: Considering the vital role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in one hand and the frequent association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and DR on the other hand. Objective: The present study was proposed to explore the possible role of VEGF in the relation between SCH and DR, thus we investigated the relation between SCH and VEGF levels in patients with DR. Methods: Two hundred patients with DR were recruited in this study [100 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 100 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)]. Patients with DR were divided into 2 groups according to thyroid function: patients with SCH or those with euthyroidism. Patients were subjected to careful history taking, and underwent clinical and ophthalmological examination. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TSH, FT4, FT3, VEGF and thyroid volume were assessed Results: Among all the studied patients, 21.5% (43/200) had SCH. DR patients with SCH had higher age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and VEGF than those with euthyroidism. The frequency of PDR in patients with SCH was 72.1% (31/43) and 43.9% (69/157) in those with euthyroidism, whereas the frequency of NPDR in patients with SCH was 27.9 (12/43) and 56.1% (88/157) in those with euthyroidism (P < 0.003). In multivariate analysis, PDR, HOMA-IR and VEGF levels were the significant predictor variables of SCH. Conclusions: Increased VEGF levels may be implicated in the relationship between SCH and DR.

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Role of Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 in the Vitreous in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Ophthalmology ◽

10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.06.025 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 115 (11) ◽

pp. 1916-1922 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Nozomu Matsunaga ◽

Yuichi Chikaraishi ◽

Hiroshi Izuta ◽

Nahoko Ogata ◽

Masamitsu Shimazawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

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Serum vascular endothelial growth factor is a biomolecular biomarker of severity of diabetic retinopathy

International Journal of Retina and Vitreous ◽

10.1186/s40942-019-0179-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sukriti Ahuja ◽

Sandeep Saxena ◽

Levent Akduman ◽

Carsten H. Meyer ◽

Peter Kruzliak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

First Time

Abstract Background Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Serum VEGF levels correlate with vitreous levels. Neuroretinal changes occur even before the appearance of vascular signs in DR. Role of VEGF as a biomarker for DR has not been assessed. Serum VEGF as a biomarker for severity of DR, was evaluated for the first time. Methods Consecutive cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus [without DR, (no DR, n = 38); non-proliferative DR, (NPDR, n = 38); proliferative DR, (PDR, n = 40)] and healthy controls (n = 40) were included. Serum VEGF was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Accuracy of VEGF as a biomarker for severity of retinopathy was measured using the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Serum VEGF levels in controls, No DR, NPDR and PDR groups showed significant incremental trend from 138.96 ± 63.37 pg/ml (controls) to 457.18 ± 165.69 pg/ml (PDR) (F = 48.47; p < 0.001). Serum VEGF levels were observed to be significantly elevated even before DR had set in clinically. ROC for serum VEGF levels was significant in discriminating between the cases and the controls and had good accuracy in discerning between subjects with and without retinopathy. The area under curve (AUC ± SE) for discrimination was significant: (a) cases and controls (n = 156): AUC = 0.858 ± 0.029, p < 0.001; (b) DR (NPDR + PDR) and No DR (n = 116): AUC = 0.791 ± 0.044, p < 0.001; and (c) NPDR and PDR (n = 78): AUC = 0.761 ± 0.056, p < 0.001, with over 90% projected sensitivity and specificity at various cut off values. Conclusion Serum VEGF level is a simple, effective laboratory investigative test in predicting the onset of DR in eyes showing no evidence of DR and serves as a reliable biomolecular biomarker for severity of DR.

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