Apolipoprotein A-I and B and Subjective Global Assessment relationship can reflect lipid defects in diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated lipid levels increase complications of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Uncontrolled diabetes increases these complications and causes unintentional weight loss, indicating an apparently normal body mass index (BMI). Thus, it is easy to assume that patients with DR and a normal BMI have optimal lipid status. Apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I and Apo B levels differentially indicate serum lipid status in DR. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) scores are associated with DR status. If SGA scores and serum Apo A-I and B levels are found to be interrelated, their relationship can reflect lipid defects in patients with DR despite apparently normal BMI. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible relationship between serum Apo A-I and B levels and SGA scores of patients with DR.

METHOD: This was a case-control study conducted from November 2011 to April 2014. Serum Apo A-I and B levels and SGA scores were calculated for 40 healthy controls, 48 individuals without DR, 49 nonproliferative DR cases, and 48 proliferative DR cases. Pearson's correlation analysis was applied between Apo A-I, Apo B, Apo B/Apo A-I ratio, and SGA scores.

RESULTS: Negative correlation was observed between serum Apo A-I level (r = -0.567, P < 0.001) and positive correlation between serum Apo B level (r = 0.451, P < 0.001) and Apo B/Apo A-I ratio (r = 0.597, P < 0.001) with escalating SGA scores.

CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a novel correlation between serum Apo A-I, Apo B and Apo B/Apo A-I ratio and SGA scores. SGA scores can help predict lipid abnormalities in patients with DR even when they have an apparently normal BMI.