Background Many authors have hypothesised that cardiovascular disorders and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) share common antecedents and suggested that novel biomarkers associated with CVD be evaluated for their potential relationship with AMD.

Purpose To analyse the effect of anti-VEGF treatment on homocysteine levels and CRP (C-Reactive Protein) levels in patients with AMD.

Materials and methods A total of 43 patients with exudative AMD and with no previous anti-VEGF treatment were treated with two anti-VEGF treatments: ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium. The follow up was 6 months. The homocysteine (HCY) and CRP levels were determined before and after treatment.

HCY levels were measured quantitatively using an intensifying immunonephelometric particle test in a BN ProSpec analyzer (Tiez, 1995) and CRP analysis was performed by an immunoturbidimetric test (Eda et al. 1998).

Results Mean plasma homocysteine level at baseline was 13.1 ± 4.2 mmol/L in patients treated with pegaptanib and at 6 months these values had not changed. In the same way the patients treated with ranibizumab showed no changes in mean baseline plasma homocysteine (12.8 ± 2.5 mmol/L) after intravitreal treatment with ranibizumab. The mean homocysteine values were within the normal range, between 5–20 mmol/L.

Of all patients analysed, only 3 of them initially had CRP levels above normal (5–10 mg /L). After antiangiogenic treatment with both ranibizumab and pegaptanib there was a significant increase in CRP. In patients with normal values, anti-angiogenic treatment produced no significant changes.

Conclusions We did not find any results in our study to suggest that anti-VEGF treatment in patients with AMD increases cardiovascular risk predictors.

No conflict of interest.