Mannose Binding Lectin and Pentraxin 3 in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND

Mannose binding lectin (MBL) is a protein of the complement system and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an acute phase protein both with an important role in inflammatory diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate whether plasma MBL and PTX3 levels are associated with the development of DR and if patients with and without DR can be distinguished.

METHODS

The patients were divided into three groups: diabetic without DR; with mild/moderate DR, and with severe/proliferative DR. PTX3 and MBL levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS

A total of 74 patients were included. A significant association was observed between high levels of MBL and severe DR; 47% of patients with severe/proliferative DR had high levels of MBL, whereas 12% of the patients with diabetes but no DR had high levels of MBL (p = 0.008; odds ratio [OR]: 6.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-25.0). High levels of MBL were more frequent in patients with severe/proliferative disease (47%) when compared to those with mild/moderate DR (20%), p = 0.04 (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.0-11.8). PTX3 levels were similar among the groups and were not related to the development or severity of DR.

CONCLUSION

We found a significant association between high plasma MBL levels and DR development as well as with severe/proliferative DR. We observed no relationship between plasma PTX3 levels and the development or severity of DR.