C-reactive protein levels and complement factor H polymorphism interaction in age-related macular degeneration and its progression

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and its joint effect with the complement factor H (CFH) polymorphism on prevalent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its progression. Design: Two-arm case-control study: (a) Study on prevalent AMD cases and population-based controls; (b) longitudinal study on AMD progression, comparing those in whom AMD progressed with those with no progression. Participants: (a) A cross-sectional sample of 544 participants, of whom 312 had features of early or late AMD and 232 were controls; (b) a sample of 254 early AMD cases, followed for 7 years. Methods: The study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Macular stereo ..