Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of rosuvastatin combined with fenofibrate therapy on monocyte chemotactic factor-1 (MCP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in elderly diabetic patients with retinopathy. Methods A total of 140 cases with diabetic retinopathy admitted during Oct. 2012 and Oct. 2014 were randomly divided into rosuvastatin group (single drug group, n=70), and rosuvastatin and fenofibrate treatment group (combined group, n=70). The single drug group received rosuvastatin calcium 10 mg/d, while the combined group were given rosuvastatin calcium 10mg/d, and Fenofibrate Capsules 100 mg once for 3 times each day. The clinical baseline levels of sex, age, body weight index, blood lipid, blood pressure and andglycated hemoglobin in the two groups had no significant differences (P<0.05). The changes of MCP-1, MMP-9 and VEGF before and after treatment were compared. Results The levels of MCP-1, MMP-9 and VEGF in the single drug group were [(2.59±0.38) vs (3.23±0.61) μg/L,t=2.697], [(47.47±5.13) vs (69.38±6.28) ng/L, t=2.868], [(125.48±8.27) vs (198.47±12.63) ng/L, t=2.846], while the levels of MCP-1, MMP-9 and VEGF in the combined group were [(1.14±0.29) vs (3.17±0.53) μg/L, t=3.217], [(34.18±4.29) vs (71.05±7.36) ng/L, t=3.163], [(87.39±10.27) vs (195.28±11.49) ng/L, t=3.352], before and after treatment, respectively. The indexes in the two groups significantly reduced after treatment. The levels of MCP-1, MMP-9 and VEGF in combined group reduced more significantly than in the single drug group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Rosuvastatin calcium and fenofibrate treatment contributes to the stable endothelial function in elderly diabetic retinopathy patients.

Key words: Endothelial function, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Diabetic retinopathy, Monocyte hemotactic factor-1