OBJECTIVE: Exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause for a severe central visual loss. The complement system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of drusen. Recently, a complement factor H (CFH) polymorphism, which is characterized by a tyrosine (Y)-to-histidine (H) exchange at position 402 of the CFH gene, has been suggested as a major risk factor for AMD in a North American population. The aim of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between the CFH Y402H polymorphism and the presence of exudative AMD in a Central European population of Caucasoid descent as well as to determine the genotype distribution among different types of exudative AMD. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort consisted of 179 patients with exudative AMD and 163 controls. METHODS: Determination of genotypes was carried out by allele-specific digestion of polymerase chain reaction products. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Genotypes of CFH Y402H polymorphism. RESULTS: The prevalence of the CFH 402HH genotype was significantly higher in patients with exudative AMD than among controls (35.2% vs. 8.6%; P<0.001). Homozygosity for the CFH Y402H polymorphism was associated with an odds ratio of 5.78 (95% confidence interval, 3.09-10.83) for exudative AMD. Subgroup analysis revealed that the CFH 402HH genotype was significantly more prevalent in eyes with predominantly classic with no occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) than in those with either retinal angiomatous proliferation, occult with no classic CNV, or predominantly classic with occult CNV. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the CFH Y402H polymorphism is a major risk factor for exudative AMD in a Central European population.
OBJECTIVE: Exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause for a severe central visual loss. The complement system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of drusen. Recently, a complement factor H (CFH) polymorphism, which is characterized by a tyrosine (Y)-to-histidine (H) exchange at position 402 of the CFH gene, has been suggested as a major risk factor for AMD in a North American population. The aim of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between the CFHY402H polymorphism and the presence of exudative AMD in a Central European population of Caucasoid descent as well as to determine the genotype distribution among different types of exudative AMD. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort consisted of 179 patients with exudative AMD and 163 controls. METHODS: Determination of genotypes was carried out by allele-specific digestion of polymerase chain reaction products. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Genotypes of CFHY402H polymorphism. RESULTS: The prevalence of the CFH 402HH genotype was significantly higher in patients with exudative AMD than among controls (35.2% vs. 8.6%; P<0.001). Homozygosity for the CFHY402H polymorphism was associated with an odds ratio of 5.78 (95% confidence interval, 3.09-10.83) for exudative AMD. Subgroup analysis revealed that the CFH 402HH genotype was significantly more prevalent in eyes with predominantly classic with no occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) than in those with either retinal angiomatous proliferation, occult with no classic CNV, or predominantly classic with occult CNV. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the CFHY402H polymorphism is a major risk factor for exudative AMD in a Central European population.
Authors: Shakir Mohamed; Kendra Schaa; Margaret E Cooper; Elise Ahrens; Ana Alvarado; Tarah Colaizy; Mary L Marazita; Jeffrey C Murray; John M Dagle Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Katarzyna Wozniak; Jacek P Szaflik; Malgorzata Zaras; Anna Sklodowska; Katarzyna Janik-Papis; Tomasz R Poplawski; Janusz Blasiak; Jerzy Szaflik Journal: J Biomed Biotechnol Date: 2009-10-26