Abstract
Purpose:
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) has a well-established function in the detoxification of reactive aldehyde, in particular ethanol-derived acetaldehyde. ALDH2 also protects against oxidative stress, which has been hypothesized to contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ALDH2 on ranibizumab treatment for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Japanese patients.
Methods:
Twenty-four Japanese patients with PCV (18 men, 6 women; mean age, 73 years) underwent ethanol patch testing (EPT). Each patch was a 15x10x1-mm lint pad stuck to adhesive tape. Just before application, several drops of ethanol (70% v/v) were dripped on the lint pad. The patch was attached to the inner surface of the upper arm of a patient for 7 minutes and then removed. The presence of erythema 10 minutes after removal of the patch was considered negative (deficient levels of ALDH2); the absence of erythema (where ALDH2 was present) was considered positive. The macular thickness (MT) was measured using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (RTVue-OCT) before and 1 month after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) treatment.
Results:
We found that 45.9% (11/24) of patients had no erythema on EPT (presence of ALDH2; active-ALDH2 group), and 54.1% (13/24) had erythema (no ALDH2; inactive-ALDH2 group). The MT in the active-ALDH2 group was 465.5 ± 161.5 (mean ± standard deviation) μm before IVR and 353.2 ± 132.5 μm 1 month after IVR, a difference that reached significance (p=0.033). The MT in the inactive-ALDH2 group was 464.8 ± 172.2 μm before IVR and 390.9 ± 255.0 μm 1 month after IVR, a difference that did not reach significance (p=0.084).
Conclusions:
The MT significantly decreased 1 month after IVR in patients with PCV with active ALDH2. In patients with PCV treated with ranibizumab, ALDH2 may be effective.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
466 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials •
688 retina