Flicker‐induced retinal vasodilatation is not dependent on complement factor H polymorphism in healthy young subjects

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) Vol. 90; no. s249
• Main Authors: NAPORA, KJ, TOLD, R, PALKOVITS, S, KAYA, S, BOLTZ, A, SCHMIDL, D, WERKMEISTER, R, GARHöFER, G, SCHMETTERER, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2012; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Macular degeneration; Ophthalmology; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.F110.x

Purpose We have previously shown that choroidal blood flow regulation in healthy subjects is abnormal in carriers of the CC allele at rs1061170, a complement factor H polymorphism that is closely related to the risk of age‐related macular degeneration. This is compatible with data in complement factor H deficient mice showing abnormal choroidal and retinal vasculature associated with endothelial damage. In the present study we hypothesized that the carriers of CC at rs1061170, which have an increased risk of AMD, already show abnormal retinal blood flow regulation at ages below 35 years. Methods A total of 99 healthy subjects (aged between 19 and 35 years) were included in this study. Flicker‐induced retinal vasodilatation was investigated in arteries and veins using the dynamic vessel analyzer (DVA) and genotyping at rs1061170 was performed. Results Out of the 99 subjects 18 were homocygous for the CC allele, 50 were homocygous for the TT allele and 31 subjects were heterocygous. The response in retinal arteries (p=0.376) and retinal veins (p=0.617) to flicker stimulation was similar between the three studied groups. In addition, the baseline diameters of retinal arteries (p=0.619) and veins (p=0.471) was also comparable between the groups. Conclusion Our data indicate that healthy young carriers of the CC allele at rs1061170 do not show abnormal flicker‐induced vasodilatation in the retina. This is in contrast to our previous results in the choroid, where these individuals have abnormal blood flow regulation. Whether this is due to the differences in vasculature or the difference in the stimulus is unclear.