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Impact of visceral fat and pro‐inflammatory factors on the pathogenesis of age‐related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
Haas Paulina,
Kubista Katharina E.,
Krugluger Walter,
Huber Johannes,
Binder Susanne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.12670
Subject(s) - medicine , pathogenesis , leptin , body mass index , macular degeneration , endocrinology , abdominal fat , serum amyloid a , population , inflammation , gastroenterology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , obesity , physiology , ophthalmology , environmental health
Purpose Previous studies have indicated that the immune system is involved in the pathogenesis of the AMD . Increased visceral fat, in addition, has a pro‐inflammatory effect on the organism by producing or influencing different kinds of inflammatory factors. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of body fat distribution in patients with age‐related macula degeneration in comparison to a control group in the A ustrian population. Methods In this case–control study, body weight and height, and body mass index ( BMI ) were measured for each subject in 54 patients with exudative AMD and compared to 46 gender‐ and age‐matched healthy control subjects. Body composition and abdominal fat areas were measured using dual‐energy X ‐ray absorptiometry ( DEXA ). Data on age, gender distribution, smoking history and systemic diseases, respectively, were compared. The inflammatory markers CRP , tumour necrosis factor‐alpha ( TNF ‐alpha), leptin, amyloid A , amyloid beta and interleukin‐6 ( IL ‐6) were assayed by ELISA ( R & D ). Results DEXA revealed central‐abdominal‐to‐total body fat ratio of 0.073 +/− 0.011 in AMD patients compared to 0.061 +/− 0.013 in the controls (p <0.001; d = 0.98). The calculation of BMI has provided a significant result (p =0.045). U ‐test results for A ß1‐42, IL ‐6, SAA and CRP each were significant (p < 0.05), with higher values in AMD patients. Leptin, TNF ‐alpha and A ß1‐40 showed no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion Our results suggest that abdominal fat distribution is significantly associated with age‐related macular degeneration. Analysis of patients with exudative AMD revealed higher levels of CRP , amyloid ß1‐42, IL ‐6 and amyloid alpha.