AIM: To investigate the correlation of matrix metalloproteinase -9(MMP-9), glycated albumin(GA), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)and adipokines(including visfatin, resistin and leptin)with diabetic retinopathy(DR).

METHODS: From March 2015 to March 2017, 74 patients with DR were treated in our hospital, including 40 patients(80 eyes)with non proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)and 34 patients(68 eyes)with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR), and diabetes mellitus 40 patients(80 eyes)with non DR(NDR)and 40 healthy volunteers(80 eyes)were selected as controls, the levels of MMP-9, GA, HbA1c, visfatin, resistin and leptin in each group were detected.

RESULTS: PDR group visfatin was 4.41±0.82ng/mL, was significantly lower than the NPDR group, NDR group and control group(P<0.05), while, resistin, leptin and MMP-9 were 9.01±1.04ng/mL, 17.96±2.03μg/L and 740.06±84.43μg/L, GA and HbA1c were 26.14%±4.57% and 17.60%±1.91%, significantly higher than those of NPDR group, NDR group and control group(P<0.05). NPDR group visfatin was 6.44±0.79ng/mL, was significantly lower than that of NDR group and control group(P<0.05), while, resistin, leptin and MMP-9 were 7.80±0.87ng/ml, 15.68±1.98μg/L and 634.12±80.22μg/L, GA and HbA1c were 22.06%±4.38% and 12.46%±1.69%, significantly higher than those of NDR group and control group(P<0.05). MMP-9, GA, HbA1c were positively with DR levels(r_s=0.523, 0.461 and 0.414, P<0.05); visfatin was negatively correlated with DR levels(r_s=-0.433, P<0.05), resistin and leptin were positively correlated with DR levels(r_s=0.401 and 0.460, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: MMP-9, GA, HbA1c, and adipokines may play a role in the development and progression of DR, in which MMP-9 is associated with adipokines, both are not significantly related to the levels of GA and HbA1c.