Influence of inflammatory plasma biomarkers on choroidal thickness in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Purpose To assess the influence of inflammatory plasma biomarkers on choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods Cross-sectional study enrolling T2D patients and age-matched healthy controls (>55 years of age, Caucasian, axial length <26 mm, no macular edema, and naïve). Patients were examined with swept-source OCT Triton, obtaining automatic measurements. CT was analyzed using the ETDRS grid and the recently proposed choroidal division. A blood analysis was commanded: general biochemical profile, liver status, T2D status, thyroid and parathyroid activity, coagulation, general immunological profile, and inflammatory biomarkers. Results 124 eyes of 124 patients with a mean age between 66 and 68 years were examined. The new choroidal division showed differences between groups (p < 0.05) in more sectors than the ETDRS grid, and more biomarkers influenced these new sectors. T2D patients had higher levels of IL-8, TNF-α, MCP1, adiponectin and L-selectin. CT was influenced by TNF-α, IL-17, leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as well as by HDL cholesterol, albumin, liver function biomarkers, and TSH. HbA1c showed little influence on CT. Conclusions T2D patients present increased plasma inflammatory biomarkers, exhibiting an influence on CT. IL-17 is related to a thicker choroid but TNF-α is related to a thinner choroid. HbA1c has little influence on CT. The recently proposed choroidal division is more sensitive to CT changes than the ETDRS grid. Some sectors are more sensitive to plasma biomarkers.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

“…[39] In a study by Fang et al [40] CRP level was proven to be adversely associated with CT. Another study demonstrated that TNF-α is related to a thinner choroid while IL-17 is pertinent to a thicker choroid. [41] This study also suggested that CT is inversely associated with homocysteine, albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) all of which are applicable as biomarkers of NAFLD and hepatic damages. [42,43] Moreover, Romero-Ibarguengoitia et al [35] indicated that non-diabetic thin NAFLD patients with retinal vascular changes (RVC) have higher levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and interferon-γ and CRP level independently contributes to higher risk of NAFLD, obesity and RVC.…”

Blood selectin levels as a predictive factor for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema in type 2 diabetes

“…Таким чином, отримані результати підтвердили сучасну концепцію щодо значення збільшення вмісту у крові селектинів за умов ЦД2, що підтверджено, наприклад, для LS [24]. Отже, селектини впливають на основні патогенетичні механізми мікросудинних ускладнень, а їх рівні у крові можна вважати предикторами прогресування ДР і виникнення ДНМ.…”