AIM:To explore the changes of the concentration of serum adiponectin(APN) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). ·METHODS:The concentration of serum APN and hs-CRP in 49 no-DR(NDR) patients were determined by ELISA and ratenephelometry and compared with those in 46 no-PDR (NPDR) patients,41 proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR) patients and 45 controls. Data were evaluated using analysis of SPSS version 11.0. Results were expressed as means standard deviation of the mean. Statistical comparisons were performed by One-way analysis of variance and the means compared each other using q test. ·RESULTS:The serum APN and hs-CRP in NDR patients were 8.76±3.61mg/L,3.12±1.24mg/L; in NPDR patients were 6.22±2.53mg/L,4.89±1.66mg/L; in PDR patients were 3.98±1.86mg/L,6.95±2.59mg/L and in controls were 13.55±5.87mg/L,2.01±0.85mg/L. There were significant differences in serum APN and hs-CRP between controls and NDR patients,NDR and NPDR patients NPDR and PDR patients (q=5.4401,P=0.000; q=2.4367,P=0.0017. q=3.1535,P=0.002; q=2.0572,P=0.003. q=4.8756,P=0.000; q=2.6184,P=0.001). There was significant negative correlation between serum APN and hs-CRP in DR patients(r=-0.643,P<0.01). ·CONCLUSION:There is significant negative correlation between serum APN and hs-CRP in DR patients. The serum APN concentration decreases while the serum hs-CRP concentration increases,which may contribute to the development of DR.