# Assessment of Serum Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule-1 (ESM-1, Endocan) Levels in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

## TL;DR

This study found that a molecule called endocan is significantly higher in people with diabetic retinopathy, suggesting it might help assess disease severity.

## Contribution

The study identifies serum endocan as a potential biomarker for diabetic retinopathy severity.

## Key findings

- Serum endocan levels were significantly higher in diabetic retinopathy patients compared to controls.
- Endocan levels may serve as a parameter to assess the severity of diabetic retinopathy.

## Abstract

The study aims to evaluate serum endocan (endothelial cell-specific molecule-1) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine its relationship with disease activity by comparing it with a control group.

Venous blood samples were collected from 63 patients with diabetic retinopathy and healthy individuals who visited the policlinic between January 1, 2020, and March 1, 2020. Serum endocan and HbA1c levels were evaluated in the patients.

The mean age of the patient and control groups was 62 ± 10.19 and 60.27 ± 5.53, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the patient and control groups in terms of age and gender. Serum endocan levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in the patient group with diabetic retinopathy (P < .05).

It was hypothesized that serum endocan levels could serve as a guiding parameter in assessing the severity of diabetic retinopathy.