Although the rs1617640, rs507392, and rs551238 polymorphisms were in high LD with each other in T1DM and T2DM patients ([10, 11, 14, 16, 19], present study), findings regarding an additional combined effect of the three EPO polymorphisms in the susceptibility of DR are also inconclusive. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.