Mannose Binding Lectin and Pentraxin 3 in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Mannose binding lectin (MBL) is a protein of the complement system and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an acute phase protein both with an important role in inflammatory diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR).

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate whether plasma MBL and PTX3 levels are associated with the development of DR and if patients with and without DR can be distinguished.

METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups: diabetic without DR; with mild/moderate DR, and with severe/proliferative DR. PTX3 and MBL levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were included. A significant association was observed between high levels of MBL and severe DR; 47% of patients with severe/proliferative DR had high levels of MBL, whereas 12% of the patients with diabetes but no DR had high levels of MBL (p = 0.008; odds ratio [OR]: 6.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-25.0). High levels of MBL were more frequent in patients with severe/proliferative disease (47%) when compared to those with mild/moderate DR (20%), p = 0.04 (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.0-11.8). PTX3 levels were similar among the groups and were not related to the development or severity of DR.

CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between high plasma MBL levels and DR development as well as with severe/proliferative DR. We observed no relationship between plasma PTX3 levels and the development or severity of DR.