title: Serum fetuin-A levels are independently correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor and C-reactive protein concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fetuin-A is shown to have proangiogenic and proinflammatory effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 245 T2DM patients consisting of 95 cases with non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 78 cases with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 72 cases with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), in addition to 65 healthy controls. Serum fetuin-A, VEGF and CRP concentrations and related parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant positive correlations were found between fetuin-A and VEGF and CRP, and between VEGF and CRP in T2DM patients (all p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, fetuin-A was correlated independently with VEGF and CRP in NPDR and PDR patients, but not in NDR subjects. In addition, fetuin-A was correlated independently with HOMA-IR (all 4 groups), HbA1c (NDR, NPDR and PDR groups) and duration of diabetes (PDR group). When compared with NDR and control subjects, NPDR and PDR patients had higher HOMA-IR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum fetuin-A concentrations are independently correlated with VEGF and CRP concentrations in T2DM patients with DR, but not in NDR subjects.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Zhong-Wei
authors: ZW
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China. Electronic address: jhxycsy@163.com.
authors: Hui-Xiang
authors: HX
authors: Ju
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Ming-Zhong
authors: MZ
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Qing-Ping
authors: QP
authors: Fu
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Hong-Mei
authors: HM
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Hong-Bin
authors: HB
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, PR China.
authors: Dong-Mei
authors: DM
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Diabetic retinopathy; Fetuin-A; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Vascular endothelial growth factor