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Serum VEGF and CFH in exudative age-related macular degeneration
Paulina Haas1, Kerstin Steindl, Tina Aggermann
1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Retinology and Biomicroscopic Lasersurgery, Rudolf Foundation Clinic, Vienna, Austria. paulina.haas@wienkav.at
Insights
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) levels were not associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study found no link between VEGF165 and the complement factor H gene (CFH) Y402H polymorphism in AMD patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
- Exudative AMD involves abnormal blood vessel growth.
- The complement factor H gene (CFH) Y402H polymorphism is a known risk factor for AMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) levels in exudative AMD patients.
- To examine the association between the CFH Y402H polymorphism and exudative AMD.
- To determine if VEGF165 levels correlate with the CFH Y402H polymorphism in AMD.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study included 66 exudative AMD patients and 66 controls.
- Serum VEGF165 levels were measured using ELISA.
- CFH Y402H genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.
Main Results:
- Serum VEGF165 levels did not differ significantly between AMD patients and controls (p=0.2112).
- Genotype frequencies of the CFH Y402H polymorphism were significantly different between the groups (p=0.003136).
- Serum VEGF165 levels were similar regardless of CFH Y402H polymorphism status or genotype (p=0.4113 and p=0.9634, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Serum VEGF165 levels are not associated with exudative AMD.
- No statistical link was found between VEGF165 and the CFH Y402H polymorphism in this study.
- The findings suggest that VEGF165 and CFH Y402H polymorphism may not be directly correlated in exudative AMD pathogenesis.
Purpose:
To determine serum vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) levels and the association of the complement factor H gene (CFH) Y402H polymorphism in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in comparison to unaffected control subjects.
Methods:
Sixty-six AMD patients and 66 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were included in this case-control study. The serum VEGF165 was assayed by ELISA (R&D). Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Chi-squared tests were used regarding the polymorphism, a t-test regarding the VEGF-levels.
Results:
Levels of serum VEGF165 were similar in both groups (p-value = 0.2112). Genotype frequency differed significantly between patients with exudative AMD and the healthy control group (p = 0.003136). The serum VEGF165 levels were similar irrespective of the presence of the CFH Y402H polymorphism (p = 0.4113) and independent of the specific genotype (p = 0.9634).
Conclusion:
In the present study, exudative AMD is not associated to serum VEGF165 levels; furthermore, our data does not establish a statistical link between VEGF165 and the CFH Y402H polymorphism.
