Cholesterol and age-related macular degeneration: is there a link?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation among serum cholesterol, apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE), and the risk of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
The Rotterdam Study, a population based prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Serum levels of total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol as well as APOE genotype were determined at baseline. Of 3,944 subjects, 400 were diagnosed with incident early and late AMD after a mean follow-up of 5.2 years.


RESULTS
Serum HDL, but not total, cholesterol was associated with an increased risk of AMD (odds ratio/SD, 1.20; 95% confidence interval; 1.06-1.35). The association remained unchanged after adjustment for APOE genotype. When stratifying for APOE genotype, the association was strongest in persons with the e 4 allele; an inverse association seemed to be present for e 2 carriers.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated HDL but not total cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of AMD. Apolipoprotein E genotype does not explain this association but may be an effect modifier.
van Leeuwen
Redmer
R
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Klaver
Caroline C W
CC
Vingerling
Johannes R
JR
Hofman
Albert
A
van Duijn
Cornelia M
CM
Stricker
Bruno H Ch
BH
de Jong
Paulus T V M
PT
D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol