AIM: To investigate the changes of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), Endostatin(ES), thrombospondin(TSP), tissue kallikrein(TKLK)and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR)and its clinical significance.

METHODS: Selected 60 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR group), 60 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR group)were enrolled in this study. Sixty diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy(DM group)and 60 healthy people(control group)were also enrolled. Collection time was from January 2014 to December 2016. Serum levels of VEGF, ES, TSP, TKLK and sICAM-1 were measured and compared.

RESULTS: The levels of serum VEGF, TKLK and sICAM-1 in PDR group were significantly higher than those in NPDR group, DM group and control group(P<0.05). The ES of PDR group was significantly lower than that of NPDR group, DM group and control group(P<0.05). The levels of VEGF, TKLK and ES in the NPDR group were significantly higher than those in the DM group and the control group(P<0.05). The serum VEGF in the NPDR group was positively correlated with the levels of ES, TKLK and sICAM-1(P<0.05). The serum VEGF of PDR group was positively related to the levels of TKLK and sICAM-1(P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between serum VEGF with ES and TSP in PDR group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The levels of serum ES, TSP, TKLK and sICAM-1 in patients with DR have changed significantly, and the process of retinopathy has been affected by regulating the level of VEGF.