Abstract :
Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes, characterized by retinal microvascular changes that can lead to vision loss. Calcium dobesilate, a vascular-regulating medication, may help manage DR by reducing inflammation and capillary permeability.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral calcium dobesilate on pro-inflammatory markers in patients with diabetic retinopathy.Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted from February 2023 to March 2024 at Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Subharti Medical College, Meerut. Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into three groups: Group A (17 patients with DR treated with calcium dobesilate), Group B (17 patients with DR receiving a placebo), and Group C (16 diabetic patients without retinopathy). Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.Results: After 12 weeks, Group A showed a significant reduction in IL-6 (from 4.82 pg/ml to 3.88 pg/ml, p = 0.039) and TNF-? levels (from 27.73 pg/ml to 24.01 pg/ml, p = 0.038), compared to Group B, which had no significant changes. CRP levels decreased in Group A (from 3.15 mg/L to 2.61 mg/L) but increased slightly in Group B.Conclusion: Calcium dobesilate effectively reduces pro-inflammatory markers in diabetic retinopathy patients, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess long-term outcomes.
Keyword :
Diabetic retinopathy, Calcium dobesilate, Inflammatory markers, IL-6, TNF-?, CRP.