SynthesisPloS one2025
Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for diabetic retinopathy stage identification: A DTA systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Review
- MicroRNA Profiles Targeting Angiopoietin-1, Angiopoietin-2, and TEK Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-2 Genes Associated with Angiogenesis in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.Turkish journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Neuroprotection in Early Diabetic Retinal Disease Using Eyedrop Delivery.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Translational insights into miR-126 and miR-423: biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases.Frontiers in molecular biosciences · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of circulating miRNAs in distinguishing between different diabetic retinopathy (DR) stages in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA-DTA and Cochrane guidelines. The protocol was not registeres and no external funding was received. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials (up to January 2025) to identify diagnostic test accuracy studies on circulating miRNAs for DR. Eligible studies included three predefined comparisons: healthy controls versus DR (CTL vs DR), T2DM without DR versus DR (T2DM vs DR), and non-proliferative versus proliferative DR (NPDR vs PDR). DR diagnosis was confirmed using fundus fluorescein angiography and/or fundus examination. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment with QUADAS-2; certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Data were synthesized using a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis, with subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses to explore heterogeneity. Data were synthesized via a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis, with subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity tests to explore heterogeneity.
resultsSixteen studies (1849 participants; 21 miRNAs) were included. For CTL vs DR (7 studies), pooled sensitivity was 77% (70-82) and specificity 84% (77-89), AUC 0.86 (0.82-0.89). For T2DM vs DR (9 studies), sensitivity was 81% (75-86) and specificity 80% (71-87), AUC 0.88 (0.84-0.91). For NPDR vs PDR (12 studies), sensitivity was 84% (79-87) and specificity 82% (76-88), AUC 0.90 (0.87-0.93). Heterogeneity arose chiefly from sample matrix, normalization strategies and inter-study expression trends. Patient selection posed the greatest bias risk.
conclusionsCirculating miRNAs exhibit promising diagnostic accuracy for differentiating among various stages of DR. However, future large, prospective studies in diverse populations and standardized pre-analytical protocols are required to confirm and translate these findings.
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