[Age-related maculopathy. Comparative studies of patients, their children and healthy controls].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively whether there are differences in spectrometrically measurable parameters of the fundus between patients with early and late age-related maculopathy (ARM), the children of the ARM patients (F1 generation) and normals.


METHODS
Using the "Jenaer Imaging Spectrometer", retinal oxygen saturation, xanthophyll, and intrinsic fluorescence were measured; the spatial distribution of xanthophyll was determined using the Rodenstock SLO 101 model.


RESULTS
Xanthophyll is reduced in late ARM as compared to the F1 generation and the control group (alpha < 0.01). The different fluorescence spectra, measured at shortwave and at longwave excitation, suggest the presence of more than one fluorophore. Furthermore, the components of the fluorophores seem to be different between patients with ARM and their F1 generation. The longwave autofluorescence is age-dependent only in late ARM (r2 = 0.81). For the first time, we found an alteration in oxygen saturation in retinal vessels in patients with ARM.


CONCLUSIONS
Xanthophyll is reduced only in late ARM. Autofluorescence and oxygen saturation are different between ARM patients, the F1 generation and normals, however, we were not able to identify a genetically based predisposition concerning the parameters studied.
Schweitzer
D
D
Augenklinik der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
Lang
G E
GE
Remsch
H
H
Beuermann
B
B
Hammer
M
M
Thamm
E
E
Spraul
C W
CW
Lang
G K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005453:Fluorescence; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D010100:Oxygen; D014975:Lutein