Thickness of retina and choroid in the elderly population and its association with Complement Factor H polymorphism: KLoSHA Eye study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 12; p. e0209276
• Main Authors: Ryoo, Na-Kyung, Ahn, Seong Joon, Park, Kyu Hyung, Ahn, Jeeyun, Seo, Jiyeong, Han, Ji Won, Kim, Ki Woong, Woo, Se Joon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 31.12.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Age; Age related diseases; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Baseline studies; Biology and Life Sciences; Choroid - diagnostic imaging; Choroid - pathology; Complement factor H; Complement Factor H - genetics; Computed tomography; Correlation analysis; Diabetes; Diabetic retinopathy; Disease; Eye; Eye (anatomy); Female; Gender aspects; Gene polymorphism; Genes; Genetic factors; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotypes; Geriatrics; Hospitals; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Macular degeneration; Macular Degeneration - genetics; Male; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Older people; Optical Coherence Tomography; Organ Size; Parameters; Pathogenesis; People and Places; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Population; Population (statistical); Population studies; Prospective Studies; Proteins - genetics; Republic of Korea; Research and Analysis Methods; Retina; Retina - diagnostic imaging; Retina - pathology; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Studies; Thickness measurement; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Topographic mapping; Topographic maps; Republic of Korea
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209276
• ISSN: 1932-6203

To analyze the associations of retinal and choroidal thickness on enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) with clinical, ophthalmic and genetic factors in the normal elderly population (aged 65 years or older). In this prospective, population-based cohort study, people aged 65 years or older were enrolled in the baseline study of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA) Eye Study. All participants underwent spectral domain-OCT scan using the EDI technique. A topographic map of the retina was obtained and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured manually. Blood samples from all subjects were genotyped for major age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) the major AMD-associated SNPs; CFH Y402H rs1061170, CFH I62V rs800292, ARMS2 A69S rs10490924. A statistical analysis was conducted to compare the retinal thickness, choroidal thickness, and AMD risk genotypes. Among the three hundred eighty people enrolled, the mean age was 76.6 years (range 65-99 years). Factors that showed correlation with either tomographic retinal parameters, retinal nerve fiber layer, or SFCT, were age and gender. Significant age-related decrease in thickness was observed in the RNFL, mean central thickness (MCT) and SFCT. Gender differences existed in central foveolar thickness (CFT) and MCT, where it was thicker in men. While chorioretinal parameters were not related with other genotypes, CFH rs1061170 risk genotype was significantly associated with thin SFCT. The group containing the AMD- risk allele (CT) had a 14.7% reduction in the SFCT compared to the non-risk TT group. In addition to the well-known association with AMD, CFH rs1061170 is a significant genetic risk factor associated with choroidal thinning in normal eyes of the elderly population. Such findings may provide further insight into the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration as well as normal aging. In addition, our study provides the first normative data on retinal and choroidal thickness in population-based aged groups with a mean age over seventy-five.