Intravitreal Levels of Human Complement Factor F (CFH) in Patients With Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Abstract

Purpose:: Measument of vitreous and seric levels of CFH in patiens with exudative AMD.

Methods:: Vitreous samples were obtained from patient with exudative AMD in the begining of a pars plana vitrectomy. Quantitative analysis of intravitreal CFH was performed by immunoradial diffusion method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Intravitrel levels were correlated to seric levels of CFH.

Results:: Nine patients were study. Mean CFH seric levels were 709.90 μg/ml (range 425.25 - 827.95). Mean intravitreal levels were 12.85 μg/ml (range 2.5 - 12.0).

Conclusions:: Intravitreal levels of CFH are 55 times lower compared to seric. We hypothesize that expression of CFH gene may be related to the low intravitreous levels of CFH.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • immunohistochemistry • pathology: human