Work

Association of age-related macular degeneration with complement activation products, smoking, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in South Carolinians of European and African descent.

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose: Smoking and the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have been linked to an overactive complement system. Here, we examined in a retrospective cohort study whether AMD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), smoking, ethnicity, and disease status are correlated with blood complement levels. Methods: : Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between AMD status and distinct readouts. Results: ). Conclusions: Our results support previous studies of systemic complement components being potential biomarkers for AMD, but they suggest that smoking and disease do not synergistically affect complement levels. We also suggest a novel susceptibility and protective haplotypes in the South Carolinian AMD population. Our studies indicate that augmented complement activation associated with advanced AMD could be attributed to a decrease in CFH activity in younger patients.

Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)