Low plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor are potential risk factors for diabetic retinopathy in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.
Previous studies suggested that neurotrophins play a role in the diabetic retinopathy (DR). We therefore evaluated the role of plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Plasma levels of BDNF were determined in type 2 diabetic patients (N=344). At baseline, the demographical and clinical data were taken. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) was used to test the overall predict accuracy of BDNF and other markers. Diabetic patients with DR and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) had significantly lower BDNF levels on admission (P<0.0001 both). BDNF improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the diabetes duration for DR from 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.82) to 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95; P<0.01) and for VDTR from 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.92) to 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90-0.98; P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for common risk factors showed that plasma BDNF levels≤12.4 ng/mL(1(rd) quartiles) was an independent marker of DR (OR=3.92; 95%CI: 2.31-6.56) and VTDR (OR=4.88; 95%CI: 2.21-9.30). The present study demonstrated that decreased plasma levels of BDNF were independent markers for DR and VDTR in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients, suggesting a possible role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of DR complications.
Department of Ophthalmology, Yuhuangding Hospital affiliated to Qingdao University, Yantai 264000, China. Electronic address: lsyyt16@163.com.
Shao-Yi
SY
Liu
Department of Ophthalmology, Yantai Economic and Technological Development Zone Hospital, Yantai 264000, China.
Xiao-Fang
XF
Du
Department of Ophthalmology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
Xiang
X
Ma
Ophthalmology Center, The Eighth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250000, China.
Jian-Lian
JL
Guo
Department of Ophthalmology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
Jian-Min
JM
Lu
Department of Ophthalmology, Yuhuangding Hospital affiliated to Qingdao University, Yantai 264000, China.
Lu-Sheng
LS
Ma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
Brain derived neurotrophic factor; Diabetic retinopathy; Type 2 diabetes