AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of serum CMKLR1 level in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS: A total of 140 patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM)treated in our hospital were selected from February 2015 to March 2018, including 45 patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM group)and 95 patients with DR(54 patients with NPDR and 41 patients with PDR). And 40 healthy volunteers were collected. Clinical data was collected and serum levels of CMKLR1 were detected.

RESULTS: The duration of diabetes in patients with PDR was longer than that in the patients with NPDR and NDR, and the patients with NPDR was longer than the patients with NDR(all P<0.05). The FPG and serum level of TG in the patients with T2DM were elevated, and the level of LDL-C in the patients with DR was higher than that in the patients with NDR and the healthy volunteers(all P<0.05). The serum level of CMKLR1 in the patients with PDR was higher than that in the patients with NPDR, T2DM and the healthy volunteers, and the patients with NPDR was higher than the patients with NDR and the healthy volunteers, the patients with NDR was higher than the healthy volunteers(all P<0.05). The serum level of CMKLR1 in patients with DR was positively correlated with the duration of diabetes, HbA1c and LDL-C(r=0.374, 0.248 and 0.304; all P<0.05). The duration of diabetes and the serum level of CMKLR1 were risk factors for DR(OR=1.594 and 1.830, all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The serum level of CMKLR1 in patients with DR was increase, and related to the progression of the disease. It was an important risk factor affecting the occurrence and progression of DR.