IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-27 blood levels in patients with age-related macular degeneration

Introduction and Aim: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main reason behind irreversible blindness in elderly all around the world. Inflammation, along with many other factors, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD. The aim of this study is to detect IL-10, IL-12, IL-17 ve IL-27 serum levels of in AMD patients and to assess their role in AMD pathogenesis. Methods: Seventy nine patients over 50 years of age, whose written consents and ethics committee approvals had been taken were included in the study. Patients were put into three groups as dry AMD, wet AMD and controls. peripheral blood samples were taken from the patients and the IL-10, IL-12, IL-17 and IL-27 levels were detected. Results: Twenty nine patients who suffer from wet type AMD, 27 patients with dry type AMD and 23 patients as the control group were included in the study. No statiscally significant difference was found between the serum IL-10, IL-12, IL-17 and IL- 27 levels of the the control group and the wet type AMD and dry type AMD patients. Discussion: Serum IL levels have not increased significantly in both types of AMD compared to the control group. Therefore, we think that as AMD is a multifactorial disease, it can be explained not just by inflammation but by holding many factors responsible in terms of its etiology.