Role of C- reactive protein in diabetic retinopathy

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a major medical problem throughout the world. Diabetes causes an array of long-term systemic complications that have considerable impact on the patient as well as society, as the disease typically affects individuals in their most productive years. C Reactive Protein is an acute phase reactant and an inflammatory mediator involved in the pathogenesis of Diabetic Retinopathy. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the correlation of C-reactive protein with diabetic retinopathy and different grades of retinopathy. Methods: The study was done on 200 diabetic patients attending the ophthalmology outpatient department, who were selected by purposive sampling. The patients were subjected to a complete ocular examination. Based on the fundus examination patients were categorized into the respective study groups: - 1) Controls 2) Diabetics without Diabetic Retinopathy 3) NPDR 4) PDR 5) CSME. The patients were then subjected to C- reactive protein estimation via laboratory analysis (Turbidometry Technique). Results: The study showed that the mean CRP levels in diabetics were found to be 3mg/dl which is well within normal limits. The CRP levels were relatively higher in the PDR and CSME groups with it being elevated in 30% and 20% patients in the groups respectively. Conclusion: CRP levels in our study did not show significant correlation with diabetes mellitus. Although higher grades of retinopathy had higher CRP levels, the correlation was not significant and consistent. Hence C- reactive protein cannot be used as a reliable screening tool for diabetic retinopathy