Assessment of Serum Lipocalin-2 in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With and Without Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Recent studies have shown elevated lipocalin-2 in complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These elevated lipocalin-2 levels have been linked with dysregulated lipid metabolism and inflammation, and they may potentially contribute to the disease severity of DR.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to assess and compare serum levels of lipocalin-2 in T2DM patients with and without retinopathy and to uncover its role in the progression of DR.

METHODS

This study involved 82 T2DM patients divided into two groups according to the presence (n=41) or absence of DR (n=41). Clinical parameters like glucose, lipid profile (triglyceride, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol), urea, and creatinine values were analyzed using an autoanalyzer. The anthropometric parameters were measured, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for lipocalin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was performed.

RESULTS

Serum levels of lipocalin-2 (<0.01) and TNF-alpha (<0.01) were significantly elevated in patients with DR compared to those without DR.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that lipocalin-2 and TNF-alpha could serve as potential circulating biomarkers for DR in individuals with T2DM. Their significant association with DR emphasizes their possible role in early identification of risk and monitoring of disease progression.