VEGFA and diabetes mellitus: Funatsu et al. 4 reported that VEGF, ICAM-1, IL-6 and MCP-1 in the vitreous fluid were statistically significantly higher in patients suffering from diabetes than those without diabetes and found higher levels in severe DME, defined as hyperfluorescent, than in mild fluorescent DME characterized by a reduced fluorescein leakage at the macula.