Inflammatory markers in age-related maculopathy: cross-sectional analysis from the Muenster Aging and Retina Study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate recent reports indicating that plasma levels of fibrinogen and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with age-related maculopathy (ARM).

METHODS

From the baseline examinations of the Muenster Aging and Retina Study, a cohort of 1060 subjects aged 59 to 82 years was assembled. Of these, 873 persons (82%) with bilateral gradable fundus photographs and complete data on fibrinogen, CRP, and potential confounders were included in a cross-sectional analysis. The main outcome measure was the association among fibrinogen, CRP, and ARM as assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Fibrinogen and CRP levels were higher among participants with early and late ARM than among those without ARM. The crude odds ratios for ARM between the highest vs the lowest quartile were 1.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-2.80) for fibrinogen and 1.43 (95% CI, 0.97-2.10) for CRP. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, these odds ratios were 1.37 for fibrinogen (95% CI, 0.91-2.06) and 1.12 (95% CI, 0.73-1.73) for CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, we found no statistically significant association between fibrogen, CRP, and ARM. Therefore, our results do not indicate a role of systemic inflammation in ARM beyond what is already present owing to concurrent cardiovascular disease.