Inflammation and AMD
There is a lot of evidence that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of both dry and wet AMD. Under the microscope, inflammatory cells are consistently seen in the outer retinas of eye donors who had AMD. The most consistent genetic change associated with AMD has been in the inflammatory complement system. Changes that results in an overactive complement system result in an increased risk of AMD. Elevations of C reactive protein, a systemic inflammatory marker, are also associated with AMD.
Does it make sense then for patients who have AMD to take an anti-inflammatory drug? The problem is that we don’t know the exact pathway of inflammation in AMD. But there is some evidence that an anti-inflammatory make be helpful. The Age-Related Eye Disease study found that patients who took a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory had a reduced risk of developing geographic atrophy which is advanced dry AMD. The Physicians’ Health Study found that an aspirin (325mg) every other day had a 23% reduced risk of AMD over five years although this result didn’t reach statistical significance.
We don’t know for sure but I’m recommending to my patients who have AMD that they check with their family doctor to see if they can take aspirin. I tell them to take a regular 325mg aspirin every day.
References:
Hageman GS, Anderson DH, Johnson LV, et al. A common haplotype in the complement regulatory gene factor H (HF1/CFH) predisposes individuals to age-related macular degeneration. PNAS 2005; 102:7227-7232.
Seddon JM, Gensler G, Milton RC, Klein ML, Rifai N. Association between C-reactive protein and age-related macular degeneration. JAMA 2004; 291:704-710.
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. Risk factors for the incidence of advanced age-related macular degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS): AREDS Report No. 19. Ophthalmology 2005; 112:533-539.
Christen WG, Glynn RJ, Ajani UA, et al. Age-related maculopathy in a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin among US physicians. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119:1143-1149.
Does it make sense then for patients who have AMD to take an anti-inflammatory drug? The problem is that we don’t know the exact pathway of inflammation in AMD. But there is some evidence that an anti-inflammatory make be helpful. The Age-Related Eye Disease study found that patients who took a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory had a reduced risk of developing geographic atrophy which is advanced dry AMD. The Physicians’ Health Study found that an aspirin (325mg) every other day had a 23% reduced risk of AMD over five years although this result didn’t reach statistical significance.
We don’t know for sure but I’m recommending to my patients who have AMD that they check with their family doctor to see if they can take aspirin. I tell them to take a regular 325mg aspirin every day.
References:
Hageman GS, Anderson DH, Johnson LV, et al. A common haplotype in the complement regulatory gene factor H (HF1/CFH) predisposes individuals to age-related macular degeneration. PNAS 2005; 102:7227-7232.
Seddon JM, Gensler G, Milton RC, Klein ML, Rifai N. Association between C-reactive protein and age-related macular degeneration. JAMA 2004; 291:704-710.
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. Risk factors for the incidence of advanced age-related macular degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS): AREDS Report No. 19. Ophthalmology 2005; 112:533-539.
Christen WG, Glynn RJ, Ajani UA, et al. Age-related maculopathy in a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin among US physicians. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119:1143-1149.
posted by FEP International at 6:44 AM
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