gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Inflammatory markers in relation to age-related maculopathy (ARM): results of the Muenster Age and Retina Study (MARS)

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author B. Dasch - Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster
  • A. Wachter - Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster; , Ophthalmology Department, St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster
  • T. Behrens - Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster
  • A. Fuhs - Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster
  • D. Pauleikhoff - Ophthalmology Department, St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster
  • H. W. Hense - Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogFR.01.11

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog172.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Dasch et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective

Recently, results from the AREDS-study pointed out a relation between inflammation and age-related maculopathy (ARM). We evaluated the association between blood levels of inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity-CRP, fibrinogen) and age-related maculopathy.

Methods

The Muenster Age and Retina Study (MARS) is a prospective study which investigates factors associated with the progression of ARM. At baseline, about 1,060 patients underwent physical and ophthalmological examination and a detailed interview. Blood was collected for biochemical analysis. The ARM status was assessed by standardized grading of digital fundus photographs. 974 eye pairs were included in the present analysis. The association of serum concentrations of hs-CRP and fibrinogen with the prevalence of ARM was assessed univariately and adjusted for cofactors by multiple logistic regression.

Results

Of the 974 eligible participants (mean age 70.8±5.5 years, 60.4 % female), 21.3 % had a normal bilateral fundus, 47.8 % showed signs of early ARM (uni- or bilateral) and 30.8 % of late ARM (in at least one eye). High-sensitivity-CRP and fibrinogen serum levels were significantly associated with the presence of ARM. The odds ratios (OR) for the highest vs. lowest quartile were 1.78 (95% CI, 1.13-2.80) for hs-CRP and 1.83 (95% CI, 1.17-2.86) for fibrinogen. After adjustement for age, sex, smoking and other variables, the odds ratios (OR) for hs-CRP (1.98; 95% CI, 1.11-3.52) and fibrinogen (1.75; 95% CI, 1.02-3.02) remained essentially unchanged.

Conclusions

In the baseline examination of MARS, we confirmed results from the AREDS-study, found an association between inflammatory markers and the prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM).