title: Plasma oxidized LDL and thiol-containing molecules in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was proposed that total thiols (tSH) as powerful reducing agents and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) may be associated with development of choroidal neovascularization in exudative age-related macular degeneration (E-ARMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study, 45 patients with E-ARMD were compared with 45 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and OX-LDL as oxidant agents, and of tSH and glutathione (GSH) as antioxidant markers, were estimated in E-ARMD patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of Hcy (15.4±7.2 μM versus 10.7±3.7 μM; p=0.001) and OX-LDL (52.2±13.8 U/l versus 37.8±10.8 U/l; p=0.001) were statistically higher, while GSH (1.10±0.97 μM versus 2.09±1.04 μM; p=0.001) and tSH (0.31±0.06 mM versus 0.35±0.05 mM; p=0.001) were statistically lower, in the patients with E-ARMD than in the control group, respectively. The plasma OX-LDL concentration also exhibited a positive and significant correlation with Hcy (r=0.719, p=0.001) in patients with E-ARMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower GSH and tSH as antioxidant and higher Hcy levels as oxidant agents in E-ARMD patients may have resulted in an oxidative environment that was associated with OX-LDL. Further studies with more cases are required to confirm the hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javadzadeh
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghorbanihaghjo
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahreini
authors.forename: Nadereh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rashtchizadeh
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Argani
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D006710:Homocysteine