Materials and Methods: Serum and vitreous levels of leptin and VEGF were detected synchronously in the vitreous and serum samples of 15 patients with diabetic retinopathy and 6 patients without diabetic retinopathy who served as controls. Parameters (blood glucose levels, HbA1C, lipid profile) which might affect serum or vitreous levels of leptin and VEGF were also studied.

Results: Vitreous levels of VEGF were significantly higher (p=0.005) in cases with diabetic retinopathy (90.45±61.85) than in the control group (41.38±8.72). A significant correlation was detected between serum glycosylated hemoglobin levels and vitreous levels of VEGF (r=0.59 p=0.005). Vitreous levels of leptin were 2.50±2.40 ng/ ml and 1.78±0.84 ng/ml with diabetic retinopathy and in control subjects respectively and the difference between them was not significant. Vitreous leptin levels correlated with serum leptin levels (r=0.63, p=0.002). Serum levels of leptin were significantly higher in females (35.05±9.34 ng/ml) than in males (25.89±3.50 ng/ml ) and correlated with body mass index (r=0.862, p<0.001). A positive correlation between vitreous levels of VEGF and vitreous/ serum ratio of leptin levels was also detected (r=0.48, p=0.026).

Conclusions: Vitreous levels of VEGF were found to be higher in cases with diabetic retinopathy. Vitreous levels of leptin mainly reflects serum levels of leptin. As the vitreus VEGF level and vitreous/serum leptin correlated, it was considered that elevated levels of vitreous VEGF could cause disruption of blood retina barrier and augment diffusion of leptin from serum to vitreous. Keywords : Diabetic retinopathy, leptin, VEGF