title: The Age-Related Macular Degeneration Complex: Linking Epidemiology and Histopathology Using the Minnesota Grading System (The Inaugural Frederick C. Blodi Lecture).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the histopathologic findings of the four stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as defined by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) using the Minnesota grading system (MGS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no animal models for AMD. Eye banks enable access to human tissue with AMD. The level of AMD (grades 1 through 4) as defined by AREDS is determined ex vivo using the MGS. The AREDS has the largest collection to date of prospectively gathered data on the natural history of AMD. Since the MGS uses the same clinical criteria as AREDS, the addition of histopathologic findings of graded tissue confirms important pathophysiology at each stage of AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four eye bank eyes were graded according to the MGS. Only the right eyes were dissected for phenotype grading. The fellow (left) eyes were fixed for histopathologic study. The eyes were serially sectioned (7 μm) through the macula. Individual slides were examined, and a two-dimensional reconstruction of the topography of the macula was created for each donor. Selected, unstained slides were used for immunohistochemical staining. In one donor, portions of tissue were obtained for transmission electron microscopic (TEM) processing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Donor 1 had a rare hard, nodular druse (MGS1). Donor 2 had intermediate confluent drusen (MGS2). Donor 3 had numerous intermediate drusen (MGS3) in the right eye. Histopathology of the fellow left showed basal laminar deposits (BLamD), soft drusen, and an area of occult choroidal neovascularization underlying the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with endothelial cells (CD31-positive). Donor 4 also had MGS 3 along with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). Histologic and TEM examination demonstrated diffuse BLamD, thickening of Bruch's membrane, hard drusen, and focal nodules underlying the RPE that corresponded to the RPD. EM examination demonstrated both BLamD and electron-dense material located just external to the elastic layer of Bruch's membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eye bank eyes graded using the MGS serve as an important link to the phenotypic and epidemiologic data from the AREDS. Thus, the MGS serves as a system to study the histopathology at each stage of AMD to better understand the relevant pathophysiologic changes in disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Emory Eye Center, Emory University Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia. Presented as the Inaugural Frederick C. Blodi Lecture at the 151st American Ophthalmological Society meeting, May 16, 2015, Newport, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Emory Eye Center, Emory University Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia. Presented as the Inaugural Frederick C. Blodi Lecture at the 151st American Ophthalmological Society meeting, May 16, 2015, Newport, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.affiliation: Emory Eye Center, Emory University Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia. Presented as the Inaugural Frederick C. Blodi Lecture at the 151st American Ophthalmological Society meeting, May 16, 2015, Newport, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Emory Eye Center, Emory University Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia. Presented as the Inaugural Frederick C. Blodi Lecture at the 151st American Ophthalmological Society meeting, May 16, 2015, Newport, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Hans E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grossniklausk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005125:Eye Banks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index