Moreover, we found significantly higher VEGF serum levels in 24 PDR patients with the CC genotype (60.4±32.1 ng/l) compared to 80 PDR patients with the other (CG + GG) genotypes (44.1±23.5 ng/l; p<0.01); 24 PDR patients with the CC genotype did not differ in clinical parameters (age, diabetes duration, age of diabetes onset, lipids, blood pressure, incidence of insulin therapy, sex distribution, incidence of smoking) from 80 PDR patients with the other genotypes (data not shown). The gene discussed is INS; the disease is diabetes mellitus.