Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.59(11) > 1107600

Song, Yoon, Kim, and Park: Analysis of 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in the Aqueous Humor of Age-related Macular Degeneration Patients

Abstract

Purpose

We examined aqueous humor levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) in patients with age-related macular degeneration to investigate possible relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical manifestations.

Methods

Patients > 50 years of age, 52 eyes of 34 patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 23 eyes of 17 patients treated with cataract surgery without retinal disease, were examined for aqueous humor vitamin D levels and compared. The experimental group was divided into two groups according to the median value of aqueous humor vitamin D levels. We compared the clinical manifestations of macular degeneration in both groups and identified relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical features.

Results

Vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (experimental, 10.03 ± 10.1 ng/mL vs. control group, 40.8 ± 16.4 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Patients with high vitamin D levels in the macular degeneration group had a higher percentage of fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments than those in the low grade group (high grade group, 65% vs. low grade group, 27%; p = 0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vitamin D levels and the total number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections within 6 months (standardize coefficient, β = −0.336).

Conclusions

Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration had significantly lower vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor compared to control group subjects of similar ages. However, in patients with macular degeneration, low vitamin D levels were associated with a greater number of intravitreal injections, while higher levels of vitamin D may lead to more advanced forms of fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelium and related low vision. These relationships were not always constant, so further studies on the relationships between local vitamin D levels and ocular disorders are needed.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Patients demographics and the aqueous humor 25-hydroxyvitamin D level between control and age-related macular degeneration patients

jkos-59-1024-i001

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%) unless otherwise indicated.

AMD = age related macular degeneration; DM = diabetic mellitus; HTN = hypertension.

*Statistically significant: p < 0.05.

Table 2

Difference in factors between two groups

jkos-59-1024-i002

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%).

DM = diabetic mellitus; HTN = hypertension; PED = pigment epithelial detachment.

*Calculated using independent sample t-test, Chi- square test; Statistically significant: p < 0.05.

Table 3

Factors associated with aqueous vitamin D level in AMD patients assessed by multiple linear regression analysis

jkos-59-1024-i003

AMD = age related macular degeneration; PED = pigment epithelial detachment

*Statistically significant: p < 0.05.

Notes

This study was supported by a grant no.2016-01 from the Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital Fund (2016).

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

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