Association of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and hyperhomocysteinemia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A prospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient ophthalmology clinics in a university-affiliated medical institution. The cohort consisted of 59 patients (25 male, 34 female) with a mean age of 78 years (standard deviation [SD] = 8.4) with neovascular AMD who were candidates for photodynamic treatment. Patients were compared for plasma homocysteine levels with 58 patients who had dry AMD (24 male, 34 female) with a mean age of 76.3 years (SD = 8.4) and with a control group of 56 age-matched subjects (27 male, 29 female), with a mean age of 77.3 years (SD = 8.2). A 3-ml venous blood sample was obtained from each participant after an 8-hour fast. Levels of plasma homocysteine were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The main outcome measure was hyperhomocysteinemia, defined as a plasma homocysteine level above 15 micromol/l.


RESULTS
Homocysteine levels were higher by 27.9% in the neovascular AMD than in the dry AMD group, and by 21.9% than in the control group (P <.02). Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 44.1% of the study group, in 22.4% of the dry AMD group, and in 21.4% of the control group (P =.011).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests an association between an elevated plasma level of homocysteine and exudative neovascular AMD but not dry AMD.
Axer-Siegel
Ruth
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel. seegs@netvision.net.il
Bourla
Dan
D
Ehrlich
Rita
R
Dotan
Gad
G
Benjamini
Yoav
Y
Gavendo
Slava
S
Weinberger
Dov
D
Sela
Ben-Ami
BA
D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D006710:Homocysteine