Evaluation of cardiovascular and inflammatory factors in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To evaluate cardiovascular and inflammatory factors in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).Methods: Seventy-six participants over 55 age were enrolled in this case control study at Cukurova University, Medical Faculty, Department of Ophthalmology, Retina Division between April 2007 and September 2008. Participants were composed of randomized 39 AMD group diagnosed as dry AMD by an ophthalmological examination and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and 37 controls. Smoking, body mass index (BMI) and serum fibrinogen CRP, IL-6, TNF-alfa, Apo-B, Lip (a), HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and trigliserid were analyzed prospectively in both groups. Cardiologic examination was performed.Results: Mean BMI levels for dry AMD and controls were 33,1±5,13 and 29,4±5,63, respectively, and statistical significant difference was oserved (p=0,045). While mean TNF-alfa levels for dry AMD and controls were 15,6±52,29 pg/ml and 15,5±41,37 pg/ml, respectively and statistical significant difference was observed (p=0,035), there was statistical borderline significant difference in terms of mean IL-6 levels which were 31,9±114,6 and 1,2±1,5 pg/ml, (p=0,080), respectively. There were no significiant differences between cases and controls in terms of serum fibrinogen, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, trigliserid, CRP, Lip (a), Apo-B, smoking and smoking time.Conclusion: Our results suggest that elevated TNF-alfa levels are associated with AMD and there was borderline significant relation between IL-6 and AMD, and implicate the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of AMD. Also elevated BMI values are associated with AMD. But there is no association with fibrinogen, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, trigliserid, CRP, Lip (a), Apo-B and smoking.