Serum Homocysteine as a Biomarker for Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose: The study investigates the role of serum homocysteine as a biomarker for detecting the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a prevalent cause of vision loss among diabetics. The research aims to assess the association between serum homocysteine levels and DR severity in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 participants categorized into four groups: control (healthy individuals), diabetes mellitus (DM) without DR, non-proliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR). Comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluations and serum homocysteine measurements were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis included mean comparisons and P value calculations, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The findings demonstrated that serum homocysteine levels were significantly elevated in patients with NPDR and PDR compared to those without DR and the control group ( P = 0.0001). in addition, factors such as longer diabetes duration, poor glycemic control, and hypertension were closely associated with DR progression. Mean homocysteine levels increased progressively from the control group (13.93 µmol/L) to the PDR group (41.15 µmol/L). Conclusion: The study concludes that elevated serum homocysteine levels are significantly associated with the severity of DR, suggesting its potential utility as a biomarker for early identification and risk stratification of diabetic patients prone to advanced DR. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and explore therapeutic interventions targeting hyperhomocysteinemia to mitigate DR progression.