Interferons may regulate immune system and also VEGF production and in this way they may influence on the process of diabetic vasculopathy. In this study we want to determine the serum level of interferon gamma in patients with diabetic retinopathy and compare it with patients without any retinopathy .

In this study 41 patients with type 2 DM and DR as a case group and 42 age-sex matched patients with type 2 DM but without DR as a control group were enrolled. None of the participants have history of any other ocular or systemic disorders. Measurement of Blood pressure, CBC,TG, cholesterol,FBS,HbA1C,ESR,CRP,BUN,Cr ,urin protein and gamma interferon were done for patients.

The Serum level of the gamma interferon was higher in the case group but it was not statistically significant (P-value>0.05). Among the factors that we checked, mean systolic blood pressure, ESR, urine protein, HBA1C, and BUN were upper and hemoglobin was lower( statistically significant )in case group compared with control one( P-value <0.05). The risk of diabetic retinopathy increases 1.06 times by each 1mm/hr raise in ESR level. By each percent raise in HbA1C the risk of DR increases 1.5 times.

The level of ESR was higher in patients with DR .Although the serum level of gamma interferon was higher in the case group but it was not statistically significant. Among other factors that we checked, systolic blood pressure, urine protein, HBA1C, and BUN were upper and hemoglobin was lower (statistically significant) in the case group compared with control one.