Pentraxin 3 and retinopathy among type 2 diabetic patients in relation to carotid atherosclerosis and systolic and diastolic cardiac function — a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide. Global prevalence of any diabetic retinopathy is assessed to be 35.4%. Several studies proved that chronic low-grade inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of DR. Some studies indicate that macroangiopathic diabetic complications may be associated with microangiopathic ones that is why a “common soil” mechanism of diabetic micro- and macroangiogpathy has been proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an inflammation’s biomarker, with diabetic retinopathy in relation to atherosclerosis in carotid arteries and systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Material and methods. 43 eligible patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled into the study and dived into two groups on the basis of presence or lack of retinopathy. Anthropometric, biochemical and carotid as well as cardiac ultrasound parameters were analyzed. Results. There was no direct association between PTX3 concentration and the presence of diabetic retinopathy, but there was a significant correlation between PTX3 and HbA1c value, age and IMT (intima media thickness) in carotid arteries among patients with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions. There is a great need for further, larger, studies on inflammatory biomarkers such as PTX3 and micro and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus in order to detect predisposed patients early enough to implement early therapeutic intervention of this complication.