Procollagen III peptide and laminin as serum markers of diabetic retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Sixty two diabetic patients [44 NIDDM and 18 IDDM patients] and twenty control subjects were subjected to estimation of serum fructosamine, serum procollagen III peptide [PIIlP] and serum laminin. Patients were classified according to fundus examination into either those without retinopathy or with background [BGR] or with proliferative [PR] retinopathy. Serum fructosamine was elevated in all diabetics. PIIlP was significantly higher in patients with PR than controls or patients with BGR. Elevation of serum laminin was noticed in all diabetics than controls except in IDDM patients without retinopathy but the difference between patients with and without retinopathy was not significant. Both serum level of laminin and PIIlP were found significantly elevated in NIDDM who received insulin. There was significant correlation between serum PIIlP and laminin with the duration of diabetes and with each other. There was no correlation between either PIIlP and laminin and fructosamine. As a conclusion, estimation of serum PIIP may be of value as a marker of diabetic retinopathy. Serum laminin level does not help to differentiate between diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Insulin treatment increases the levels of both serum laminin and PIIIP