Objective: To examine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a risk factor for aging macula disorder (AMD) in a general population. Methods: We examined serum high-sensitivity CRP (HsCRP) levels in 4914 participants of the population-based Rotterdam Study at risk for AMD. After a mean follow-up of 7.7 years, 561 cases of early and 97 cases of late incident AMD (iAMD) were identified. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: After adjustment for age and sex, hazard ratios were 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21) per standard deviation increase in HsCRP level for early iAMD and 1.28 (95% CI, 1.02-1.60) for late iAMD. Hazard ratios for early iAMD increased per quartile increase in HsCRP level as follows: second quartile, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.94-1.52); third quartile, 1.29 (95% CI, 1.01-1.64); and fourth quartile, 1.33 (95% CI, 1.05-1.70). The risk of late iAMD was higher in all upper quartiles of HsCRP. Conclusion: Elevated baseline levels of HsCRP were associated with the development of early and late AMD in this large population-based cohort.

doi.org/10.1001/archopht.125.10.1396, hdl.handle.net/1765/35193
Archives of Ophthalmology
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Boekhoorn, S., Vingerling, H., Witteman, J., Hofman, A., & de Jong, P. (2007). C-reactive protein level and risk of aging macula disorder: The Rotterdam study. Archives of Ophthalmology, 125(10), 1396–1401. doi:10.1001/archopht.125.10.1396