Abstract
Background and Objectives: Several risk factors are associated with development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Disequilibrium between body oxidants and antioxidants status has been proposed as one of the main risk factors of the disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of hyperhomocysteinemia and reduced paraoxonase activity in pathogenesis of the exudative ARMD.
Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, forty-five patients with the exudative ARMD referring to Tabriz Nikookari Hospital, and 45 healthy people as control were recruited. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, homocysteine and oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured by spectrophotometric and ELISA methods.
Results: PON1 activity level was significantly reduced in patients with the exudative ARMD than the control group (P<0.05). The levels of homocysteine and oxidized LDL were markedly higher than those of the controls (P<0.05, in both cases).
Conclusion: Increased plasma oxidized LDL levels as an index of oxidative stress in the exudative ARMD patients may be due to higher levels of homocysteine. Moreover PON1 activity is not sufficient in prevention of the exudative ARMD; because exudative ARMD is a multifactorial disease.