gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Does presence of a cilioretinal artery protect against age-related macular degeneration?: The Muenster Age and Retina Study (MARS)

Meeting Abstract

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

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogP 150

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog641.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Meister et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Objective

A cilioretinal artery (CRA) provides additional macular blood supply. Its potential role in the pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and macular degeneration (AMD) is unknown. In MARS we examined a possible association between the presence of a CRA and prevalent ARM or AMD.

Methods

1063 patients were examined in MARS by means of digitalized stereoscopic fundus photography. The presence of a CRA was recorded separately in each eye. A standardized fundus grading was done using the criteria of the Rotterdam-study. Each eye was classified into three groups: no retinal pathology, ARM (drusen and/or pigment alterations) or late AMD.

Results

A CRA was found in 254 of 1987 gradable eyes (=12,8%). The presence in both eyes was only 4,2% of all patients. There was no significant difference in the presence of a CRA by sex, age or smoking. Eyes with a CRA had in 63,8% signs of ARM or AMD. Eyes without a CRA had a ARM or AMD in 71,6% (OR = 0,70; p=0,01). In multivariate logistic regressions adjusting for age, sex and smoking, late AMD was less frequently found in eyes with a CRA (OR = 0,56; p=0,0135).

Conclusions

Our results support the hypothesis that a cilioretinal artery is a mild protecting factor against AMD. These results need independent confirmation.