Analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) insertion/deletion gene polymorphism and environmental risk factors in sample of Algerian population with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Background: Increasing evidence shows that genetic and environmental factors can influence neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) risk. The aim of this study was first to analyse the association of insertion/deletion polymorphism in VEGF gene and environmental factors with the risk of nAMD, and then to investigate whether these factors have an impact on the age of onset of nAMD in a sample of the Algerian population.

Methods: Seventy two patients with nAMD and one hundred twenty-four controls were recruited; standardized questionnaire was used to collect information regarding underlying systemic diseases and important environmental factors.