Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine the relation of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with markers of systemic atherothrombosis.
Methods
A hospital-based case–control study of AMD was undertaken in London, UK. Cases of AMD (n=81) and controls (n=77) were group matched for age and sex. Standard protocols were used for colour fundus photography and to classify AMD; physical examination included height, weight, history of or treatment for vascular-related diseases and smoking status. Blood samples were taken for measurement of fibrinogen, factor VIIc (FVIIc), factor VIIIc, prothrombin fragment F1.2 (F1.2), tissue plasminogen activator, and von Willebrand factor. Odds ratios from logistic regression analyses of each atherothrombotic marker with AMD were adjusted for age, sex, and established cardiovascular disease risk factors, including smoking, blood pressure, body mass index, and total cholesterol.
Results
After adjustment FVIIc and possibly F1.2 were inversely associated with the risk of AMD; per 1 standard deviation increase in these markers the odds ratio were, respectively, 0.62 (95% confidence interval 0.40, 0.95) and 0.71 (0.46, 1.09). None of the other atherothrombotic risk factors appeared to be related to AMD status. There was weak evidence that aspirin is associated with a lower risk of AMD.
Conclusions
This study does not provide strong evidence of associations between AMD and systematic markers of arterial thrombosis, but the potential effects of FVIIc, and F1.2 are worthy of further investigation.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Liz McCabe for recruitment of the participants in the study, Jackie Cooper for monitoring matching during recruitment, and Homeira Sheikh for performing all the laboratory analyses. We also thank Mr Ivor Levy (deceased) for his contribution in interpretation of the retinal photographs and Bob Tapper for performing the photographs. This research was funded by the Medical Research Council.
Author contributions: All authors contributed to the formulation of the hypothesis. PM, RW, and TWM were responsible for the design and conduct of the study. ARR performed the statistical analyses and drafted the paper, to which all authors contributed. PM and TWM supervised the laboratory analyses. All authors approved the final version. PM and ARR had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
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Rudnicka, A., MacCallum, P., Whitelocke, R. et al. Circulating markers of arterial thrombosis and late-stage age-related macular degeneration: a case–control study. Eye 24, 1199–1206 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2010.8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2010.8
