title: The role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of oxidant/antioxidant status and protein oxidation in the development of age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activities of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and the levels of serum malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, glutathione and vitamin C were measured in 25 patients with age-related macular degeneration and 25 control subjects without age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein product levels in the serum were significantly higher in the age-related macular degeneration patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). The superoxide dismutase activity in the serum was significantly lower in the age-related macular degeneration patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). The levels of vitamin C and glutathione and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the serum were unchanged between groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that decreased effectiveness of the antioxidant defense system and increased oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Etimesgut Public Health Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey. zyildirim2004@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zuhal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Nil Irem
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Ucgun
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase