Systematic Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Elevation in Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Patients with Macular Edema
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study investigates the association between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its complication, diabetic macular edema (DME), and compared it with biomarkers of oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the main indicators of the development of diabetic retinopathy measured as parameters of oxidative stress and compared to lipid oxidation, DNA damage, and cytokine levels and to monitor their quantitative manifestation in DME. This study evaluated 134 patients (62 males and 72 females; aged 62.10 ± 11.22 years) and divided them into two groups: type 2 diabetes mellitus with DR and type 2 diabetes mellitus with DME. All results were compared with healthy volunteers (n = 94) and showed that patients with DME had significantly higher levels of ROS, cytokine production, lipid oxidation, and DNA damage. In addition, patients with DME had decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO) and an impaired NO synthase (NOS) system (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that patients with DR and DME are unable to compensate for high levels of oxidative stress. Reduced NO levels in patients with DME may be due to impaired NO availability. This study highlights compromised oxidative status as a contributing factor to DME in patients with decompensated type 2 diabetes mellitus. An assessment of oxidative stress levels and inflammatory biomarkers may aid in the early detection and prediction of diabetic complications.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms26083810
Institution: Trakia University
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
Funder: Trakia University
Awards: G2540636856, G3712278347
OpenAlex ID: W4409545137