The serum fibroblast growth factor 21 is correlated with retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

despite advances in blood glucose control, the incidence of sight loss has not decreased in patients with diabetes. Several growth factors have been suggested as factors associated with diabetic retinopathy pathogenesis. In the current cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between FGF21 and retinopathy as a microvascular complication of diabetes.Adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); were recruited and evaluated for retinopathy. Different clinical and biochemical factors, such as FGF21 were assessed and compared between groups.91 T2DM patients with retinopathy, 93 T2DM patients without retinopathy, and 86 healthy control subjects were recruited. FGF21 was significantly different between the three groups (P<0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression model obesity, cholesterol, HbA1c, and FGF21 were associated with diabetic retinopathy. ROC curve analysis was used for establishing a cut-off FGF21 concentration to predict diabetic retinopathy. The area under the curve in this model was 0.992. The best cut-off point for predicting retinopathy based on FGF21 was greater than 312 pg/ml, with a sensitivity of 97.80% and specificity of 96.77%.FGF21 was associated with diabetic retinopathy and can be suggested as a surrogate diagnostic marker in the diagnosis of this state.