title: Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related maculopathy in the Chinese population: the Beijing Eye Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the Y402H polymorphism in the complement factor H and soft drusen of the macula as part of age-related maculopathy in the Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the population-based Beijing Eye Study, the participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including fundus photography. All fundus photographs were graded using the Wisconsin Grading System. Of 515 subjects with soft drusen in the macula, 208 (40.4%) subjects had blood samples taken and were thus eligible for the present study. These subjects were compared with 140 randomly selected control subjects from the Beijing Eye Study matched for age, sex, and rural versus urban area with the study group. The analysis of the genotype was performed by allele-specific digestion of polymerase chain reaction products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dividing the study group into subjects with bilateral soft drusen and unilateral soft drusen showed a significant association between the Y402H polymorphism in the complement factor H gene and the study group with bilateral soft drusen with an odds ratio of 2.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Also in the Chinese population, soft drusen as part of age-related maculopathy are associated with the Y402H polymorphism in the complement factor H gene despite a markedly lower frequency of C allele in the Chinese population than in white populations.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yibin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jost B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Bao-Chen
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000235:genetics*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C493495:CFH protein, human; D017242:Complement Factor H