Initial treatment response can predict one-year treatment outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated according to the observe-and-plan regimen.

Purpose: To investigate if the initial treatment response can predict the 1-year treatment outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated according to the observe-and-plan (O&P) regimen.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, treatment-naïve patients with nAMD were enrolled consecutively and followed for 1 year while being treated according to the O&P regimen. The treatment response was determined initially post-loading doses and after 1 year.

Neurofilament light in serum: Reference values and effect of risk factors for multiple sclerosis.

Background: The measurement of neurofilament light (NFL) in blood samples has been established as a sensitive measure of neuroaxonal damage in a wide range of diseases in the peripheral and central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies have identified confounding factors that may influence the serum concentration of NFL.

Aim: We aimed at investigating the relationship between known confounders (age, body mass index, blood volume) and risk factors for MS (smoking and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)) on serum concentrations of NFL in control subjects.

Complement proteins and complement regulatory proteins are associated with age-related macular degeneration stage and treatment response.

Background: Dysregulation of the complement system is involved in development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The complement cascade is regulated by membrane bound complement regulatory proteins (Cregs) on mononuclear leukocytes among others. This study aims to investigate systemic complement proteins and Cregs in AMD stages and their association with treatment response in neovascular AMD (nAMD).

Systemic infection in aged mice causes upregulation of crystallin alpha A in the RPE/choroid.

Aging changes the responsiveness of our immune defense, and this decline in immune reactivity plays an important role in the increased susceptibility to infections that marks progressing age. Aging is also the most pronounced risk factor for development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that is characterized by dysfunctional retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and loss of central vision. We have previously shown that acute systemic viral infection has a large impact on the retina in young mice, leading to upregulation of chemokines in the RPE/choroid (RPE/c) and influx of CD8 T cells in the neuroretina.

Neuroretinal degeneration in a mouse model of systemic chronic immune activation observed by proteomics.

Blindness or vision loss due to neuroretinal and photoreceptor degeneration affects millions of individuals worldwide. In numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, dysregulated immune response-mediated retinal degeneration has been found to play a critical role in the disease pathogenesis. To better understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the retinal degeneration, we used a mouse model of systemic immune activation where we infected mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) clone 13.

Lifestyle and demographic associations with 47 inflammatory and vascular stress biomarkers in 9876 blood donors.

Background: The emerging use of biomarkers in research and tailored care introduces a need for information about the association between biomarkers and basic demographics and lifestyle factors revealing expectable concentrations in healthy individuals while considering general demographic differences.

Methods: A selection of 47 biomarkers, including markers of inflammation and vascular stress, were measured in plasma samples from 9876 Danish Blood Donor Study participants. Using regression models, we examined the association between biomarkers and sex, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and smoking.

Interleukin-8 Promoter Polymorphism -251 A/T and Treatment Response in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory chemokine, suggested to hold a role in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Our aim is to study the association of the single-nucleotide polymorphism -251 A/T (rs4073) in the IL-8 promoter region with the treatment response to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections in nAMD.

Patients And Methods: This is a prospective study of treatment-naïve patients with nAMD.

VEGF Inhibition Associates With Decreased Risk of Mortality in Patients With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Controversy exists regarding the systemic safety of intravitreal VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). We aimed to investigate the potential impact of VEGF inhibitor treatment on the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with nAMD.

Design: A nationwide register-based cohort study with 16 years follow-up.

Splenic monocytes drive pathogenic subretinal inflammation in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is invariably associated with the chronic accumulation of activated mononuclear phagocytes in the subretinal space. The mononuclear phagocytes are composed of microglial cells but also of monocyte-derived cells, which promote photoreceptor degeneration and choroidal neovascularization. Infiltrating blood monocytes can originate directly from bone marrow, but also from a splenic reservoir, where bone marrow monocytes develop into angiotensin II receptor (ATR1) splenic monocytes.

Chemokine Receptor Profile of T Cells and Progression Rate of Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration is a progressive retinal degenerative disease. Systemic chemokine receptors and known risk-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been associated with GA pathogenesis. Because halting progression is pivotal for patients, we investigated the association of candidate chemokine receptors and progression rate (PR) of atrophic lesions in patients with GA.

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This review investigates age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is a degenerative retinal disease. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown, but tobacco smoking is a significant risk factor for the development of the disease. The wet form of AMD can be treated by intraocular injection of an antibody that binds vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which is involved in the disease process.

Patient perspectives and barriers in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Denmark: a qualitative study.

Objectives: This qualitative study aims to identify patient-reported barriers to treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and investigate their impact on quality of life.

Design: Using a qualitative explorative design.

Setting: Semi-structured individual or dyadic interviews were conducted with patients and their relatives.

Complement factor H Y402H polymorphism results in diminishing CD4 T cells and increasing C-reactive protein in plasma.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of visual loss among the elderly. Genetic variants in the gene encoding complement factor H (CFH) have been identified as an AMD susceptibility gene, however, the mechanistic link is debated. Here, we investigated the link between the CFH Y402H genotype and low-grade inflammation.

Geographic atrophy - Signs, symptoms, and quality of life.

Geographic atrophy (GA) is a prevalent cause of vision loss among elderly and is associated with a significant loss of function. We reviewed the current literature to assess the effect of GA on patients' daily lives and well-being. We record and organize the signs, symptoms, and impacts that are important in life with GA.

Use of optical coherence tomography angiography for the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration.

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes approximately 9% of all blindness worldwide. The introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) has revealed a potential for non-invasive diagnosis of neovascular AMD (nAMD), but has yet to be proven an accurate method for nAMD diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to map the clinical use of OCT-A in nAMD diagnosis and to investigate the agreement between two consultants in diagnosing nAMD.

Systemic virus infection results in CD8 T cell recruitment to the retina in the absence of local virus infection.

During recent years, evidence has emerged that immune privileged sites such as the CNS and the retina may be more integrated in the systemic response to infection than was previously believed. In line with this, it was recently shown that a systemic acute virus infection leads to infiltration of CD8 T cells in the brains of immunocompetent mice. In this study, we extend these findings to the neurological tissue of the eye, namely the retina.

Exudative Progression of Treatment-Naïve Nonexudative Macular Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses.

Purpose: To systematically review and report the rate of exudative progression over time in patients with nonexudative macular neovascularization (MNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Systematic review with prevalence meta-analyses and individual participant meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched 10 literature databases on March 26, 2023, for studies of consecutive patients with treatment-naïve nonexudative MNV in AMD.

Heart-Rate Variability Correlates to Choroidal Thickness in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: Patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) have previously been shown to have a lower heart rate variability (HRV), implying a lower vagal tone. Vagal tone alters mineralocorticoids, which in turn affect the thickness of the choroid. Since increased choroidal thickness is characteristic of CSC, we wanted to investigate its correlation with HRV.

Predictive value of retinal oximetry, optical coherence tomography angiography and microperimetry in patients with treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion.

Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors have substantially improved the visual outcomes in patients with macular edema (ME) caused by branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), but treatment outcomes are highly variable and early prediction of expected clinical outcome would be important for individualized treatment.As non-invasive metabolic, structural and functional retinal markers might act as early predictors of clinical outcomes, we performed a 12-month, prospective study aimed to evaluate if baseline retinal oximetry, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) or microperimetry were able to predict need of treatment, structural or functional outcome in patients with ME caused by treatment-näive BRVO.We evaluated 41 eyes of 41 patients with a mean age of 69.

Vision-related quality of life is selectively affected by comorbidities in patients with geographic atrophy.

Background: The atrophic late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is termed geographic atrophy (GA), and affects visual acuity (VA) as well as quality of life (QoL). Previous studies have found that best-corrected VA (BCVA), the standard vision assessment often underrepresents functional deficits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between atrophic lesion size, VA and QoL measured with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-39) in a Danish population.