Pentraxin 3 serum levels in wet-type age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has become a catastrophic health problem throughout the world because of the aging population. Destruction of the macular architecture in the wet type form is a major problem that results from AMD and is irreversible. Working on preventive measures is, therefore, of critical importance. Because pentraxins (PTX) become elevated in the body in stressful, oxidized conditions, this study examines the role they play in AMD. The similarity between the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and AMD and the role of PTX3 in atheromas were also factors that support conducting this study. Methods: This case-control study used 40 eyes that were at different stages of wet type AMD. The eyes were from patients who were over the age of 50 and had not had intraocular surgery or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to non-AMD causes. The control group included 49 eyes with normal macula. These study groups were matched according to age and gender, and the serum levels of PTX3 were analyzed. Results: The mean ages of the patients were 70.7 ± 9.0 and 69.6 ± 7.4 years among the case group and the control group, respectively (P = 0.540) while the male to female ratios were 2.64 and 1.19, respectively (P = 0.091). The PTX3 (P = 0.002), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P = 0.008) and triglyceride (TGs) (P = 0.032) were significantly higher among the wet type AMD cases. Conclusion: PTX3 appears to be a component in the pathogenesis of AMD and, therefore, could be a target for possible pharmaceutical interventions to stop or reduce the progression of this ominous disease.