TY - JOUR T1 - Association between serum fibroblast growth factor 21 level and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes JF - BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care JO - BMJ Open Diab Res Care DO - 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002126 VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - e002126 AU - Shi Jin AU - Ning Xia AU - Lingling Han Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://drc.bmj.com/content/9/1/e002126.abstract N2 - Introduction We conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the relationship between serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) level and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR).Research design and methods A total of 654 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was evaluated by the bilateral retinal photography, and patients were assigned into groups of no DR (NDR) (n=345, 52.75%), non-sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (NSTDR) (n=207, 31.65%), involving patients with mild or moderate non-proliferative retinopathy (NPDR) and STDR (n=102, 15.60%), including those with severe NPDR or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Serum FGF21 levels were quantified by a sandwich ELISA. Patients were divided into quartiles according to their serum FGF21 level.Results There was a significant difference in serum FGF21 level among the three groups of patients (p<0.01). Compared with other quartiles (Q1–Q3), the patients in Q4 had a higher prevalence of DR and STDR (p<0.05). Compared with Q1, a positive association was observed between serum FGF21 level and DR in Q3 and Q4 (p<0.01). After adjusting for age, gender and other risk factors, serum FGF21 level in Q4 was found to be associated with increased risk of DR and STDR (p<0.01). Serum FGF21 level was noted as an independent risk factor for DR and STDR (p<0.01). Serum FGF21 level >478.76 pg/mL suggested the occurrence of DR and that level >554.69 pg/mL indicated STDR (p<0.01).Conclusions Serum FGF21 level was a biomarker for the risk of developing DR or STDR. The risk of STDR increased when the serum FGF21 level of patients with type 2 diabetes was >554.69 pg/mL.Data are available on reasonable request. ER -