Abstract: Objective To study the plasma erythropoietin used as a factor to predict the risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods 168 suspected diabetic retinopathy patients were selected as the research object. The levels of EPO, glycosylated hemoglobin, FBS, CRP, serum lipid, apolipoprotein A and B in patients were detected. The t test, χ2 test and multiple factor analysis were used to identify the independent risk factors of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Results 28 cases among 168 suspected diabetic retinopathy patients were confirmed as proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients, the prevalence rate was 16.67%. The multiple factors logistic regression analysis results showed that EPO was an independent risk factor for predicting of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion Plasma erythropoietin could be used one of factors for predicting the risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.