Macular Degeneration Risk & Inflammation Test

Your risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) may be marked by a blood test for inflammation. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston reporting in JAMA Ophthalmology found that the risk of macular degeneration (AMD) is correlated with the findings of the CRP (c-reactive proteins) test, an inflammation marker commonly used for heart disease and other inflammatory conditions. 

The pooled findings across the groups showed that there was a significantly increased risk of AMD for those patients with high versus low CRP levels and those with high CRP levels also had a significantly increased risk of neovascular or Wet AMD. The researchers concluded that elevated levels of CRP predict greater future risk of AMD. 

It is believed that this information might shed light on underlying mechanisms and could be of clinical help in the identification of persons at high risk of AMD who may benefit from increased adherence to lifestyle recommendations, eye examination schedules and therapeutic protocols.

If you or someone you know has questions about their risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and inflammatory markers such as the CRP test, please feel free to call Center for Sight at 508-730-2020, visit www.center-for-sight.com or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.