C-Reactive Protein and Body Mass Index in Patients with Type -2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Retinopathy

Background and aims: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory biomarker that may be associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). The body mass index (BMI) is an important element, frequently evaluated in patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between CRP, BMI and existing DR in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects. Material and method: Thirty T2DM patients aged 35-50 were subjected to a general, ophthalmologic and fundus examination. Results: 9 of the 30 patients (30%) didn’t presented changes in the fundus examination. 15 (50%) presented minor retinal changes while 6 (20%) were diagnosed with DR: one case of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, 2 cases of preproliferative DR and 3 cases of proliferative DR. In patients with normal fundus examination and minor retinal changes, CRP was positive in the majority of the cases (95.8%). CRP was positive in only one patient in the group with diagnosed DR. BMI was increased in 85.71% of the patients with retinal changes: angiosclerosis or DR and in only 22.22% of the patients without retinal changes. Conclusions: Lower CRP and higher BMI were associated with higher prevalence of DR.