Abstract:AIM: To explore the correlation of the levels of serum pentraxin 3(PTX3), fatty acid-binding protein 4(FABP4), and prolyl hydroxylase 2(PHD2)with the severity of diabetic macular edema(DME).
METHODS:A total of 157 DME patients admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to March 2025 were selected as the DME group, categorized into mild, moderate, and severe groups based on the severity of their condition. Additionally, 157 patients with simple T2DM during the same period were also selected as the T2DM group. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2; Logistic analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting severe DME; and ROC curves were drawn to analyze the evaluation value of serum PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2 in patients with severe DME.
RESULTS: There were differences between the T2DM group and the DME group in the duration of diabetes, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, and homocysteine levels(all P<0.05). Compared with the T2DM group, the serum levels of PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2 in the DME group were significantly elevated(all P<0.05). In comparison to the mild group, the moderate and severe groups had significantly higher serum levels of PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2(all P<0.05). Compared with the moderate group, the severe group had significantly higher serum levels of PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2(all P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2 are risk factors affecting severe DME(all P<0.05). The results of the ROC curve indicated that the AUCs for the individual and combined evaluations of serum PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2 in severe DME patients were 0.788, 0.802, 0.814, and 0.957, respectively, with the combined evaluation having a higher AUC than the individual evaluation(Z=2.696, Z=2.711, Z=2.714, all P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Serum levels of PTX3, FABP4, and PHD2 are significantly elevated in patients with DME, and the three are associated with the severity of the patients' condition. Combined testing has a certain clinical value in assessing patients with severe DME.
