Abstract

Introduction: The oxidative stress has been proposed as an important case of exudative age-related macular degeneration (E-ARMD). The aim of the present study was to investigate
homocysteine (Hcy), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and oxidized low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (Ox-LDL-C) levels, the factors involved in oxidative stress, in the
patients with E-ARMD.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 45 patients with E-ARMD were compared with 45
sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The levels of biochemical factors, Hcy, ADMA, and of
Ox-LDL were estimated by standard methods in both study groups.
Results: The levels of Hcy (15.4 ± 7.2 vs. 10.7 ± 3.7 μM, P = 0.001), Ox-LDL (52.2 ± 13.8 vs.
37.8 ± 10.8 U/l, P = 0.001), and ADMA (0.84 ± 0.23 vs. 0.71 ± 0.26 μM, P = 0.012) were
significantly higher in the patients with E-ARMD than those in the controls. In the patient
group, there was a positive and significant correlation between serum Ox-LDL and Hcy
concentrations (r = 0.719, P = 0.001), but no correlation was found between serum ADMA
and Ox-LDL (r = 0.010, P = 0.900) and also between serum Hcy and ADMA levels
(r = -0.070, P = 0.600).
Conclusion: The high levels of Hcy as an oxidant agent and ADMA as an endogenous nitric
oxide synthase inhibitor can lead to increase Ox-LDL levels, and they may have important
roles in oxidative stress, which can be a trigger in E-ARMD.