Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Surrogate Markers for Diabetic Retinopathy

BACKGROUND: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy involves the formation of new blood vessels extending into the vitreous cavity, leading potentially to blindness. It's associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, yet the mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized differential levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the peripheral blood could correlate with retinopathy stages. METHODS: In a study involving 40 subjects, colony forming units of EPCs (CFU-EPCs) were measured: 10 healthy controls, and 30 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients across no, non-proliferative, and proliferative retinopathy stages. RESULTS: Significant differences in CFU-EPCs were found, with healthy subjects averaging 36±8 CFU-EPCs, compared to 13±12 in T2DM without retinopathy, 22±26 with non-proliferative, and 2±2 with proliferative retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: CFU-EPCs are significantly inhibited in T2DM patients with proliferative retinopathy, suggesting their potential as surrogate markers for disease severity and associated risks.