Serum prolactin levels as a biomarker for assessing diabetic retinopathy severity

Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the association between serum prolactin (PRL) levels and the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, statistical analysis of PRL levels was conducted. Methods: This 18-month study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum PRL levels and the severity of DR by analyzing PRL levels in patients with T2DM. A total of 72 patients were enrolled in the study and categorized into three groups: No DR (NDR), nonproliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR), with each group consisting of 24 cases. DR staging was performed using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure serum PRL and Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Results: In this study, the mean FBS and PPBS levels increased progressively across the groups: NDR (145.29 mg/dL, 194.1 mg/dL), NPDR (149.5 mg/dL, 223.25 mg/dL), and PDR (170.5 mg/dL, 261.1 mg/dL). The proportion of patients with HbA1c ≥7 mg/dL was highest in the PDR group (87.5%), followed by NPDR (79.8%) and NDR (62.5%). Mean serum PRL levels showed a decreasing trend, with NDR (10.13 ng/mL), NPDR, and PDR (6.98 ng/mL), suggesting an inverse relationship between PRL levels and disease severity. Conclusions: This study found lower serum PRL levels in DR patients, suggesting that the PRL/vasoinhibin pathway regulates its progression. Medications inducing hyperprolactinemia may offer potential therapeutic benefits.