title: Inflammation, haemostatic disturbance, and obesity: possible link to pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is insufficiently understood but may possibly involve chronic, low-grade inflammation. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between inflammatory and haemostatic markers, other markers of endothelial dysfunction and anthropometric parameters, and their association with DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to the DR status patients were divided into three groups: no retinopathy, mild/moderate nonproliferative (NPDR), and severe NPDR/proliferative retinopathy (PDR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups did not differ in the levels of inflammatory and haemostatic markers, other markers of endothelial dysfunction, and anthropometric parameters. After dividing the patients according to the level of obesity (defined by BMI, WC, and WHR) into three groups ANOVA showed the differences in C-reactive protein according to the WC (P = 0.0265) and in fibrinogen according to the WHR (P = 0.0102) as well as in total cholesterol (P = 0.0109) and triglycerides (P = 0.0133) according to the BMI. Logistic regression analyses showed that diabetes duration and prolonged poor glycemic control are the main predictors of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interrelations between obesity, inflammation, haemostatic disturbance, and other risk factors may possibly play an important additional role in endothelial dysfunction involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic Vuk Vrhovac, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zajčeva 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomić
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University Clinic Vuk Vrhovac, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zajčeva 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Spomenka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ljubić
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Snježana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaštelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital Dubrovnik, Dr. Roka Mišetića 2, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia.
authors.forename: Antonela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gverović Antunica
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 25 p.p. 422, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Anamarija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jazbec
authors.affiliation: Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Rockefellerova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poljičanin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D014792:Visual Acuity; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio