Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the plasma levels of PDGF-B, VEGF and TNF-α in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Methods:
30 patients with neovascular AMD and 12 healthy controls were included in this prospective study. The concentrations of PDGF-B, VEGF and TNF- α were measured by ELISA.
Results:
The PDGF-B concentration in the plasma of controls was [median (25-75 percentile)] 263.5 (162.0 - 513.3) pg/ml . In patients with neovascular AMD PDGF-B levels were significantly higher with a median plasma concentration of 783.5 (289.3 - 1183.5) pg/ml (p=0.003). The VEGF concentrations in patients with neovascular AMD 55.0 (37.0 - 116.3) pg/ml showed no significant differences (p=0.159). No significant differences of systemic TNF-α levels could be found between the study groups.
Conclusions:
Patients with neovascular AMD have significantly higher plasma PDGF-B levels compared to healthy controls. Our study data provide further evidence for the possible importance of PDGF-B in the pathophysiology of neovascular AMD
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration