ADIPOCYTE FATTY ACID BINDING PROTEIN (A-FABP) AS A NOVEL BIOCHEMICAL MARKER OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is acomplex metabolic disorder associated with increased risk of microvascular and macrovascular disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia resulting from defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes visual impairment as a result of long term accumulated damaged to the small blood vessels in the retina.Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein(AFABP), been suggested as a third adipokine, in addition to leptin and adiponectin. AFABP might have a role in the proliferation of endothelial cells, as well as in angiogenesis. A-FABP levels were determined in subjects witout diabetes mellitus, with type 2 diabetes mellitus without DR and with DR at admission in order to investigate a possible association of A-FABP to the increased risk of incidence of DR. Material and methods: This study was done on non-diabetic (n=25) and Type 2 diabetes subjectswith(n=25) and without retinopathy (n=25) who visited HAHC hospital. Blood glucose (fasting and post prandial), glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urea, creatinine, uric acid, total protein, serum albumin,serum electrolytes (sodium, potassiumand chloride), totalcholesterol,triglyceride, high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and and AFABP were measured . Result: The mean values of blood glucose (fasting and post prandial),HbA1C,urea, creatinine , TG, LDL VLDL and AFABP were higher in diabetic subjectswith diabetic retinopathy in comparison to diabetic subjects without retinopathy and subjects without diabetes mellitus and were highly significant statistically.(p<0.01). The mean value of HDL was lower in diabetic subjects with diabetic retinopathy in comparison to diabetic subjects without retinopathy and subjects without diabetes mellitus and was highly significant statistically. Conclusion:The study helps in associating AFABP as an early biochemical marker for identifying onset of diabetic retinopathy in subjects with diabetes mellitus at an early stage.