Levels of anti-insulin antibodies in diabetic retinopathy patients: an observational cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study evaluated the levels of anti-insulin antibodies (AIAs) and the influence of some antidiabetic medications on AIA in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with retinopathy. Patient & methods: An observational cross-sectional study. Results: A lower titer of AIA IgG was observed in the diabetic retinopathy (DR) and DM-only study categories compared with the control group [DR = 86 (5-560), DM-only = 50 (5-500), versus control = 200 (7-565); p = 0.017]. Taking nifedipine and metformin were negatively correlated (r = -0.32, p = 0.04) with the levels of AIA IgE in the DR group. Conclusion: A decreased titer of circulating AIAs was observed in the DR study category, suggesting that AIA may not contribute to the pathogenesis of DR.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the main reason people lose their sight in countries with few resources. Anti-insulin antibodies, or AIAs, help the body fight off infections and may play a role in the development of DR. The study looked at how much AIA was in DR patients and how some diabetes drugs affected AIA levels. There was a negative link between nifedipine and one AIA (IgE) in people with DR, but a positive link between metformin and another AIA (IgG). AIA levels were lower in the DR study group, which suggests that AIA may not cause DR.