2Yrd. Doç. Dr., Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Biyokimya AD, Kırşehir, Türkiye
3Uz. Dr., Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Göz Kliniği, Kırşehir, Türkiye Aim: Our aim was to compare the serum endocan levels of wet and dry type age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients with control subjects.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional case control study was conducted on a total of 89 subjects consisting of 26 wet type AMD and 30 dry type AMD cases and 33 control subjects. Serum endocan levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit in all participants.
Results: There was no significant difference among the groups for mean age, gender distribution or body mass index (p>0.05). Serum endocan levels were 15.7±6 ng/mL, 16±5.7 ng/mL and 18.1±5.3 ng/mL in wet and dry type AMD patients and control subjects, respectively, with no signifi cant difference among the groups (p=0.192).
Conclusion: We did not fi nd a signifi cant difference in serum endocan levels between wet and dry type AMD patients and control subjects. However, further studies evaluating vitreous endocan levels are needed to investigate the potential pathophysiological role of endocan in AMD pathogenesis.
Keywords : Age-related macular degeneration, endocan, infl ammation, neovascularization, vascular endothelial growth factor