New neovascular age‐related macular degeneration is associated with systemic leucocyte activity

Abstract

Systemic leucocyte activity is associated with onset of CNV in patients with AMD and correlate with lesion size and BCVA, which suggest that acute systemic immune activity may play a role in neovascular flaring of AMD.

Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Very Old (≥90 Years): Epidemiology, Adherence to Treatment, and Comparison of Efficacy

“…Some of these patients informed that they did not seek help after several months, which is particularly problematic since timely treatment can be important factor for neovascular AMD [39, 40]. It is hard to speculate whether these challenges reflect a generation issue in not wanting to burden others, cognitive decline that are seen in among the very old, or a concept of accepting that vision declines with age.…”

Altered proportion of CCR2+ and CX3CR1+ circulating monocytes in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

“…To avoid blurring the results from immunological co‐morbidities, we did not recruit individuals with known altered immune dysfunction (active cancer, autoimmune disease or any immune, infectious or inflammatory diseases, or patients who were receiving chemotherapy or any immune modulating therapy). Cases with a recent CNV onset were also not considered because of possible acute immune activity . Participants with elevated plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels (>15 mg/L) were post hoc excluded as this is a sign of ongoing acute immune response .…”

“…Development of choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs) defines the late stage of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Monocytes play an important role as shown in several studies: tissue specimens of neovascular AMD show macrophages in significantly higher number around the lesion, experimental CNV in mice is attenuated in size upon experimental depletion of circulating monocytes, patients with new‐onset neovascular AMD have increased circulating monocytes and retinal injury leads to chemokine secretion to which circulating monocytes are drawn . These monocytes respond to the injury by secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) .…”

Contribution of microglia and monocytes to the development and progression of age related macular degeneration

“…Lastly, intermediate monocytes are thought to be associated with antigen presentation. Some studies have suggested that the proportion of the three monocyte classes is unchanged in advanced AMD, although an increase in monocytes has been reported during the first month following the onset of neovascular AMD . However, changes gene expression (transcriptome) in monocytes isolated from subjects with neovascular AMD highlight that alterations occur in peripheral blood monocytes during disease.…”