title: Correlation of platelet activating factor and age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) in the pathogenesis and development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty six patients with ARMD (24 patients with dry ARMD and 32 patients with wet ARMD) and 25 age-matched control participants underwent ophthalmological examination, including visual acuity measurement and evaluation of the retina. The participants were classified into three groups according to their retinal status, based on indirect fundoscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography and fluorescein angiography findings. In order to evaluate the concentrations of PAF in serum, blood samples were collected from all participants and were analyzed with ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of PAF differed significantly according to macular lesions and were found to be lower in patients with ARMD than control participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAF levels are decreased along with the severity of ARMD. Understanding the role of PAF in pathogenesis of ARMD could be the impetus for the development of new therapies field of treatment of ARMD or even other retinal diseases.
authors: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School , Athens , Greece +306944887319 ; +302104122319 ; moschosmarilita@yahoo.fr.
authors: Eirini
authors: E
authors: Nitoda
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Koutsilieris
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Brouzas
authors: Chryssanthi
authors: C
authors: Koutsandrea
authors: Anastasios
authors: A
authors: Philippou
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Ladas
authors: Marilita M
authors: MM
authors: Moschos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor
keywords: age-related macular degeneration; angiogenesis; para-inflammation; platelet activating factor