Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Serum Level in Wet Type Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Wet type Age-related Macular Degeneration (Wet type AMD) is a debilitating ocular disease which generally occurs among elderly population. Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) is a reactive phase protein which is associated with Alzheimer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and aging. In this case-control study, 40 eyes of 40 patients with wet type age-related macular degeneration and 49 normal eyes of 49 healthy people were randomly selected and serum levels of TNF-α, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose were checked. The difference of mean ages and male to female ratio were not statistically significant (P=0.441, P=0.091). Serum level of TNF-α was significantly higher among patients with retinal degeneration (Median (IQR) = 0.2 (0.1-0.58) vs. 0.1 (0-0.2); P=0.002). TNF-α would have a role in the pathogenesis of the wet type age-related macular degeneration and pharmaceutical and/or non-pharmaceutical interventions might decelerate or even cease the progression of this ominous disease.