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. 2015 Oct;22(4):232-7.
doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.220408.

Exploring the role of VEGF in Indian Age related macular degeneration

Kaushal Sharma  1 , Neel K Sharma  2 , Ramandeep Singh  3 , Akshay Anand  4
Affiliations

Exploring the role of VEGF in Indian Age related macular degeneration

Kaushal Sharma et al. Ann Neurosci. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is major devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive irreversible vision loss in the elderly persons. In spite of several genetic and environmental factors, the role of VEGF and CFH predispose the pathological phenomenon in the AMD patients.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to estimate the VEGF levels in the serum of AMD patients and its correlation with co-morbidity of the participants.

Methods: The study recruited the 98 AMD patients and 59 controls with proper consent of the participants as per the exclusion-inclusion criteria. The co-morbidity and socio-economic details were obtained by introducing the standard questionnaire amongst the participants. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was estimated by ELISA and compared with the control population of the study. The levels of VEGF in the serum of AMD patients and controls were compared with Mann-Whitney U-test. Kruskal Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze more than two variables in the study.

Results: Elevated level of VEGF was found in AMD patients as compared to controls. Surprisingly, we did not find significant changes among wet AMD subtypes i.e. minimal, predominant and classic wet AMD. However, we have demonstrated the intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment (avastin) in AMD patients could reduce the systemic VEGF levels although it was not significant. Moreover, the heart ailment in the AMD patients could also influence the VEGF levels.

Conclusion: Our study is consistent with previous studies describing the imperative significance of VEGF in AMD pathology. However, our study did not reveal the role of VEGF in wet AMD progression but it is well established causative agent for the same. The increased levels of VEGF in heart ailment among AMD patients are significant.

Keywords: Age related macular degeneration; Anti-VEGF; Heart ailment; VEGF.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests: None: Source of funding: None.

Figures

Fig. 1:
Fig. 1:
Expression levels of VEGF in serum of AMD patients with comparison of controls. Representative boxes include the values from first quartile (25%) to third quartile (75%). The outliers in the experiments are shown with circles. The values of VEGF levels normalized with protein of the serum. AMD: age related macular degeneration; pg: picogram; μg: microgram; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.
Fig. 2:
Fig. 2:
VEGF Serum levels in heart ailment of AMD patients. The plotted values in the boxes includes from first quartile (25%) to third quartile (75%). The outliers and extreme values are designated with circles and asterisk respectively. The expression levels of VEGF (pg) standardized with total protein (μg). AMD: age related macular degeneration; pg: picogram; μg: microgram; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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