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Asian medicine

Inflammatory Factors and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Link to Diabetic Retinopathy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers in Nanjing, People's Republic of China, have identified a correlation between inflammatory factors and the total load of cerebral small vessel disease in diabetic retinopathy and cognitive impairment. The study investigated 1860 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, dividing them into a diabetic retinopathy (DR) group and a non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) group. Results showed that patients with DR had higher levels of inflammatory markers, including uric acid, triglyceride glucose index, and systemic immune-inflammation index, compared to those without DR.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 1860 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, of which 693 patients (37.26%) had diabetic retinopathy (DR) and 1167 patients (62.74%) had no DR.
  • Patients with DR had higher levels of inflammatory markers, including uric acid (UA), triglyceride glucose index (TyG), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), compared to those without DR.
  • The total load of cerebral small vessel disease was significantly associated with more severe stages of DR.
  • Monofactor analysis identified high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as risk factors for DR.
  • The study found that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were also significantly higher in the DR group compared to the NDR group.

Statistics:

  • 693 patients (37.26%) had DR and 1167 patients (62.74%) had no DR.
  • Uric acid (UA), triglyceride glucose index (TyG), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were all significantly higher in the DR group compared to the NDR group.
  • Total CSVD load and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were significantly associated with more severe stages of DR.

Sources:

  • The Mechanisms of Inflammatory Factors and the Total Load of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Diabetic Retinopathy and Cognitive Impairment. Diabetes Therapy, 2025.
  • Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
  • Springer Heidelberg, Tiergartenstrasse 17, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany.
  • NewsRx. New Findings Reported from Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine Describe Advances in Diabetic Retinopathy (The Mechanisms of Inflammatory Factors and the Total Load of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Diabetic Retinopathy and Cognitive ...). Cardiovascular Week. October 20, 2025; p 302.

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