title: Exploring the role of VEGF in Indian Age related macular degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is major devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive irreversible vision loss in the elderly persons. In spite of several genetic and environmental factors, the role of VEGF and CFH predispose the pathological phenomenon in the AMD patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate the VEGF levels in the serum of AMD patients and its correlation with co-morbidity of the participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study recruited the 98 AMD patients and 59 controls with proper consent of the participants as per the exclusion-inclusion criteria. The co-morbidity and socio-economic details were obtained by introducing the standard questionnaire amongst the participants. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was estimated by ELISA and compared with the control population of the study. The levels of VEGF in the serum of AMD patients and controls were compared with Mann-Whitney U-test. Kruskal Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze more than two variables in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated level of VEGF was found in AMD patients as compared to controls. Surprisingly, we did not find significant changes among wet AMD subtypes i.e. minimal, predominant and classic wet AMD. However, we have demonstrated the intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment (avastin) in AMD patients could reduce the systemic VEGF levels although it was not significant. Moreover, the heart ailment in the AMD patients could also influence the VEGF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is consistent with previous studies describing the imperative significance of VEGF in AMD pathology. However, our study did not reveal the role of VEGF in wet AMD progression but it is well established causative agent for the same. The increased levels of VEGF in heart ailment among AMD patients are significant.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India ; Centre for Systems biology and Bioinformatics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India ; Both contributed equally to the manuscript.
authors.forename: Kaushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, USA ; Both contributed equally to the manuscript.
authors.forename: Neel K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ramandeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anand
keywords: Age related macular degeneration; Anti-VEGF; Heart ailment; VEGF