Study co-author Dr. Dean Li, from the Program in Human Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Utah, added: "Though there is no proven pharmacologic treatment for diabetic vascular eye diseases, inhibiting the growth of unwanted blood vessel growth using antibodies directed against vascular endothelial growth factor [anti-VEGF therapy] has been advocated. This genetic study suggests that future therapeutic strategies need to consider blunting the effects of erythropoietin in addition, or as an alternative, to an anti-VEGF strategy."
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about diabetic eye disease.
