Circulating insulin-like growth factor-1: a new clue in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.

Niccolò Castellino,Antonio Longo,Matteo Fallico,Michele Reibaldi,Mario Damiano Toro,Katarzyna Nowomiejska,Paolo Murabito,Claudio Furino,Robert Rejdak,Vincenza Bonfiglio,Andrea Russo,Teresio Avitabile

doi:10.18632/aging.101727

Abstract

In order to investigate Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) blood levels in male and female age-matched patients affected by early, intermediate, neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD) and healthy subjects (no AMD) were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. All patients enrolled were classified according to 4 stages classification of AMD from Age-related eye disease study (AREDS). Each subject underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), applanation tonometry, slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and, if needed, fluorescein angiography. Overall, 224 anti-VEGF naïve subjects including 56 patients in early AMD group, 56 patients in intermediate AMD group, 56 patients in neovascular AMD group and 56 patients in no AMD group were recruited. For each group 28 male patients and 28 female patients were enrolled. IGF-1 hematic levels were significantly higher (p<0.005) in the neovascular AMD group and in the intermediate AMD group in comparison to no AMD group; no significant difference between early AMD group and no AMD group was found. Our analysis has shown an increment of IGF-1 levels in both neovascular and intermediate stage of AMD supporting the hypothesis that IGF-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Highlights

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries [1,2]
In order to investigate Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) blood levels in male and female age‐matched patients affected by early, intermediate, neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD) and healthy subjects were enrolled in a prospective, observational study
Our analysis has shown an increment of IGF‐1 levels in both neovascular and intermediate stage of AMD supporting the hypothesis that IGF‐1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD

Summary

Introduction

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries [1,2]. AMD has been classified in two major clinical patterns: the “dry” form which is associated with an atrophic evolution and a slow visual decline and the “neovascular” form which is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (cnv) associated with a rapid and abrupt visual loss [3,4]. The pathogenesis of neovascular AMD has long been debated but at present it remains not fully elucidated. It encompasses the presence of an inflammatory network involving the macula and the active role of pro-angiogenic factors which lead to choroidal neovascularization and visual loss [7]

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Results

Conclusion