Serum and Aqueous Concentrations of Inflammatory Markers in Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the serum and aqueous levels of inflammatory markers and diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: The study included four patient groups: the healthy control group (n = 23 eyes); the diabetic control group (n = 22 eyes); the groups with and without DME (n = 20 eyes and n = 22 eyes, respectively). The patients were evaluated based on their serum levels of HbA1c, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum and aqueous levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Statistically significant differences were present for the serum CRP levels and for the aqueous TNF-α levels between the healthy control group and the group with DME (p = 0.004 and p = 0.03, respectively); for the serum TNF-α levels between the healthy control group and the groups without and with DME (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Increased serum levels of CRP and serum and aqueous levels of TNF-α in DME suggest that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of DME.