[Mendelian randomization study of the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and age-related macular degeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To explore genetic variants robustly associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by Mendelian randomization analysis  and to examine its causal association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
AMD cases and controls were selected from several  hospitals nationwide. Their AMD was diagnosed by eye examination, serum HDL-C levels were examined by blood tests, and other informations were  also collected including demographic characteristics, high risk behaviors and so on. The genetic loci hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) rs10468017 was used as  instrumental variables for HDL-C.


RESULTS
The study population contained hospital-based 545 AMD patients and 480 controls. The LIPC genotypes  were unrelated to all potentially confounding factors measured in this study. In conventional multivariable analyses, the HDL-C level was positively  associated with AMD. The odds ratio was 2.00 (95%CI: 1.41-2.86). Instrumental variable analyses (Mendelian randomization approach) showed an  increasing odds ratio of HDL-C and AMD, which was 7.15 (95%CI: 0.80-64.13).


CONCLUSIONS
Being different with previous observational analysis, this  study did not support the status of increasing serum HDL-C level as a risk factor for AMD by Mendelian randomization analysis.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China.
Xue-ying
XY
Qin
Jun
J
Tian
Kai
K
Fang
Juan
J
Li
Wen-zhen
WZ
Yu
Jing
J
Hou
Da-fang
DF
Chen
Xiao-xin
XX
Li
Yong-hua
YH
Hu
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics; D016015:Logistic Models; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D057182:Mendelian Randomization Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; C504173:LIPC protein, human; D008049:Lipase