title: Systemic endothelial function in cases with wet-type age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Choroidal endothelial dysfunction plays key role in wet-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Peripheral vascular endothelial function is not known in wet AMD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to analyze peripheral vascular endothelial function in cases with wet-type age-related macular degeneration by measuring flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 20 cases with wet AMD (Group 1, mean age 65.9 ± 7.2 years) and 24 healthy individuals (Group 2, mean age 62.0 ± 11.9 years). In all cases, a cardiologist assessed the responses of endothelial function by measuring the FMD following brachial artery occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean FMD, an indicator of endothelial function was found to be 6.4 ± 2.7 % in Group 1 and 15.6 ± 7.3 % in Group 2 (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patient and control groups regarding age, sex, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, ESR and CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced FMD is present in patients with wet AMD, suggesting that impaired peripheral endothelial function may be involved in its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey. habasa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hasan Basri
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Arifoglu
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arzu Seyhan
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Karatepe Hashas
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atas
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahadır
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarli
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkose
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, S.B. Kayseri Research and Education Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Boulevard Hastane Street No:78, Kayseri, 38010, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demircan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: AMD; Endothelial function; FMD