AIM:To observe the effects of Dickkopf-3(Dkk-3)in diabetic retinopathy(DR)circulating blood in patients with the expression level, the Dkk-3 development changes in the diabetic retinopathy of significance in the diagnosis of early DR.

METHODS:Eighty-five type 2 diabetic patients, included the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)23 patients, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative DR(PDR)in patients with 30 and non-diabetic retinopathy(NDR)with 32 cases. The same period of healthy physical examination was selected as control group(80 cases). Serum samples were collected, and the relative expression level of Dkk-3 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)double antibody sandwich assay. The statistical differences were compared between groups.

RESULTS:The plasma level of Dkk-3(430.16±198.11pg/mL)in DR patients was significantly lower than that in healthy control group(627.48±294.45 pg/mL; P<0.05)and NDR patients(601.99±194.16 pg/mL; P<0.05). While there was no significant difference in Dkk-3 level between NDR and healthy control group(P=0.729). The level of PDR in patients with Dkk-3(396.38±185.59 pg/mL)was lower than that of NPDR(538.82±187.20 pg/mL; P=0.002).

CONCLUSION:The decrease of Dkk-3 level may be related to the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy, and there is a significant correlation with PDR. Circulating blood Dkk-3 protein in diabetic retinopathy has a certain differential efficacy, it is likely to become diabetic retinopathy patients peripheral blood test indicators.