重视我国年龄相关性黄斑变性的特征研究

年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)是老年人群不可逆性视力丧失的主要原因,严重威胁患者的独立生活能力.由于人群的遗传背景、疾病易感性、生活环境和习惯等方面的不同,导致AMD的患病率、临床特征及对光动力疗法(PDT)的反应也各异,不同种族间亦存在差异.笔者就我国人群有关AMD的种族差异性进行分析,并与白色人群相比较,认为我国人群早期和晚期AMD的患病率相对较低,临床上息肉样脉络膜血管病变更为常见.在遗传易感基因研究方面,虽然补体因子CFH基因的Y402H变异型是西方白色人群AMD发病的重要危险因素,但Y402H与我国人群渗出性AMD的发病无相关性.此外,PDT治疗1年后,我国人群的视力预后好于西方白色人群.

Characteristics of age-related macular degeneration in Chinese population

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly population and threatens the ability of patients to live independendy. Ethnic differences are evident in the prevalence of AMD, its clinical features, as well as treatment responses to photedynamic therapy (PDT), most likely due to the differences in genetic backgrounds, disease susceptibility, living environments and habits. This article reviewed ethnic/racial differences in AMD, paying particular attention to the Chinese population, and highlighted the key findings. Compared to Caucasians, the prevalence of early and late stages of AMD is relatively lower and the polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is more commonly seen in the Chinese population. Regarding genetic susceptibility, the complement factor H (CFH) Y402H variant is not associated with exudative AMD in Chinese although it is strongly associated with AMD in Caucasians. In addition, visual outcome in Chinese patients with AMD seems to be better than that in Caucasian patients after PDT at 1 year follow-up.