Anti-vascular Growth Factor Research Articles

P63 Morbidity and mortality conference using ACGME competencies: a case study in eclampsia

(1) Persistence of aberrant CVD risk factors and an accelerated progression of IMT. (2) Lower levels of circulating endothelial markers and impaired numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), indicating endothelial cell dysfunction and impaired vascular repair. Methods: 18 formerly preeclamptic women and 16 controls were included in our follow-up (study 2). Ultrasound measurements of carotid and femoral arteries and various classical cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Blood samples were taken and whole blood was stained using anti-CD34, anti-CD133 and anti-vascular growth factor receptor antibodies. Flow cytometry was used to quantify EPCs (triple positive cells). Circulating endothelial markers (von Willebrand factor (vWF), ICAM-1) and inflammatory markers (hsCRP) were measured in plasma using ELISA. Results: See Table 1. Conclusion: This study suggests a transient adaptive response of the vasculature to a preeclamptic pregnancy which normalizes within years. Otherwise, the presence and persistence of cardiovascular risk factors in formerly preeclamptic women emphasizes the need to follow up these high-risk women in future.

Refractive error and smoking habits in exudative age-related macular degeneration in a hospital-based setting

To assess and compare refractive error and smoking habits in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a clinical setting. The clinical comparative study included 379 patients (379 eyes) who underwent intravitreal application of an anti-vascular growth factor drug for the treatment of exudative AMD, and 191 patients without exudative macular degeneration and who underwent surgery for age-related cataract. Smoking status was compared with an age-matched control group of the German population described in the census of 2003. The main outcome measures were refractive error, axial length, and data from a questionnaire on smoking habits. The AMD group compared with the cataract group showed a significantly shorter axial length (23.31+/-0.75 vs 24.20+/-1.56 mm; P<0.001) and was significantly more hyperopic (0.65+/-2.14 vs -1.71+/-4.57 dioptres; P<0.001). After the exclusion of pseudophakic AMD patients and matching by age and gender, the difference of refractive error and axial length between both groups remained to be statistically significant (P<0.001). The AMD group and the matched population group did not vary significantly in smoking history (age group: 55-75 years, current smokers: 18.4% vs 16.8% (P=0.64); former smokers: 23.2% vs 24.9% (P=0.66); age group>75 years, current smokers: 6.3% vs 6.4% (P=0.97); former smokers: 19.7% vs 22.8% (P=0.25)). In our setting, an association was found between short axial length and AMD. We were not able to confirm the previously reported link between smoking and AMD.