Pro- and antiangiogenic VEGF and its receptor status for the severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: Alteration of pro- and antiangiogenic homeostasis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms in patients with hyperglycemia seems crucial but substantially unexplored at least quantitatively for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, in the present study we aimed to estimate the difference between the pro- (VEGFa) and antiangiogenic (VEGFb) VEGF isoforms and its soluble receptors for severity of DR.

Methods: The study included 123 participants (diabetic retinopathy: 81, diabetic control: 20, non-diabetic control: 22) from the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata.