Genetic Study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

NCT00357578 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 00011400-EI-0114
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will examine skin and blood cells for genetic changes related to the development of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that can significantly impair the ability to read, drive, and carry out daily activities. It is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. People with age-related macular degeneration and healthy normal volunteers age 50 years or older may be eligible for this study. Candidates will undergo a medical history, physical examination and eye examination with dilation of the pupils. Photographs of the eye will be taken with a special camera. Study participants will have blood drawn three times (no more than 6 tablespoons each time) and will undergo three skin biopsies. For the skin biopsy, an anesthetic is injected under the skin and a small piece of skin-approximately 1/4-inch cube-is removed. The blood draws and biopsies will be done at 7- to 10-day intervals. In most cases, a single biopsy is done at each visit, but it may be necessary to take-at most-one additional biopsy from the other arm during the same visit. Patients will return for one follow-up visit 7 to 10 days after the last biopsy for examination of the biopsy site and removal of any stitches. The results of this study may provide investigators information needed to develop new means of diagnosing and treating age-related macular degeneration.

Conditions

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Keywords

Macrophages; Biopsy; Genetic Analysis; Geographic Atrophy; Choroidal Neovascularization; Fibroblast; Disciform; Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• AMD Patients: Diagnosis of AMD defined by the presence of at least one druse greater than 125 microns in diameter (4 patients) or geographic atrophy in at least one eye or choroidal neovascularization with drusen of any size in at least one eye (4 patients). (AMD cases only)
• Age 60 years or older.
• Age-matched control patients, absence of drusen or no more than 5 drusen less than 63 microns, absence of other diagnostic criteria for AMD, and age 60 years or older. The distribution of ages in the control group will be as similar as possible to the distribution of ages in the disease groups (4 patients).
• AMD Patients: Diagnosis of AMD defined by the presence of at least one druse greater than 125 microns in diameter (10 patients), geographic atrophy (10 patients) and choroidal neovascularization with drusen of any size in at least one eye and/or disciform scar (20 patients). (AMD cases only) Presence of neovascularization and disciform scar formation will be verified by color photography.
• Age 50 years or older.
• Age-matched control patients: absence of drusen or no more than 5 drusen less than 63 microns, absence of other diagnostic criteria for AMD, and age 50 years or older. The distribution of ages in the control group.

You may not qualify if:

• Patient age less than 50 years.
• Presence of retinal disease involving the photoreceptors and/or outer retinal layers other than AMD loss such as high myopia, retinal dystrophies, central serous retinopathy, vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy and uveitis or similar outer retinal diseases which have been present prior to the age of 50.
• Opacities of the ocular media, limitations of pupillary dilation or other problems sufficient to preclude adequate stereo fundus photography.
• Medical problems which make consistent follow-up over the treatment period unlikely (e.g., stroke, severe MI, terminal carcinoma).
• Inability or inaccessibility to obtain dermal biopsy from the inner aspect of both arms due to previous trauma, underlying skin disorder which would preclude good wound healing, previous surgery of the arm or breast which could prevent good wound healing or induce other changes at the biopsy site.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Eye Institute (NEI): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Bird AC, Bressler NM, Bressler SB, Chisholm IH, Coscas G, Davis MD, de Jong PT, Klaver CC, Klein BE, Klein R, et al. An international classification and grading system for age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The International ARM Epidemiological Study Group. Surv Ophthalmol. 1995 Mar-Apr;39(5):367-74. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(05)80092-x.

  PMID: 7604360 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Macular Degeneration; Geographic Atrophy; Choroidal Neovascularization

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Retinal Degeneration; Retinal Diseases; Eye Diseases; Choroid Diseases; Uveal Diseases; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Metaplasia; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2006
• First Posted: July 27, 2006
• Study Start: April 14, 2000
• Study Completion: September 19, 2007
• Last Updated: July 2, 2017

Record last verified: 2007-09-19

Locations

US (1)