LEVELS OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN IL-6 IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Abstract

Introduction:  The pro-inflammatory Interleukin IL-6 is reportedly raised in serum and vitreous humor of patients with diabetic retinopathy; possibly IL-6 plays a role in the pathogenesis of retinal neo-vascularization in these patients. The present study was conducted to determine levels of serum IL-6 in patients with advanced Diabetic Retinopathy.

Materials & Methods: A comparative study was conducted from June to November 2010 in the Outpatients Departments and Inpatients of three major hospitals of Peshawar and one Eye Trust hospital from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in which 47 patients of diabetic retinopathy were compared with 45 diabetics without retinopathy and 39 normal healthy subjects. Retinopathic groups were designated as diabetic non-proliferative retinopathy (DNPDR, n=21) and diabetic proliferative retinopathic (DPDR, n=26). Serum IL-6 determination was done by ELISA. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 14.0.

Results: Serum IL-6 concentration was significantly greater in DNPDR (122.99 ± 40.76 pg/ml) & DPDR (190.42 ± 84.73 pg/ml) patients than CDNR (69.73 ± 16.47 pg/ml) patients (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum IL-6 levels were significantly raised in association with diabetic retinopathy, particularly proliferative retinopathy; levels were highest in females with proliferative retinopathy.