Correlations in some pathogenetic factors and values of hemorheological parameters in age-related macular degeneration

The aim of this study was to correlate some pathogenetic factor with the hemorheological parameters in ills with age-related macular degeneration. The studies were performed on 52 patients suffering from AMD. The control group consisted of 42 healthy persons. Blood samples were taken from patients immediately after ophthalmological examination from antecubital vein and anticoagulated with K₃EDTA. The symptoms of macular degeneration were drusen; changes in retinal pigmentation, areolar atrophy, neovascularization. Blood viscosity measurements were performed with use of cone-plate Brookfield viscometer at sheer rate 150 s⁻¹ and plasma viscosity with capillary Ubbelohde's viscometer. Fibrinogen concentration has been measured according to Clauss method, and level of triglycerides was measured using coupled enzymatic reactions. Haematocrit level was measured with the help of micromethod. The viscosity of whole blood, corrected viscosity and plasma viscosity were respectively 6.9%, 14.6% and 15.7% higher in the patient group than in the control group, while fibrinogen-plasma factor was 16% higher. Aggregation amplitude and time t_1/2 were 89.3% and 28.6% lower in AMD group. Erythrocyte deformability was 18% lower. The aggregation index was 7.6% higher in the AMD group then in the control group. Summing up in people suffering from AMD rheological disturbances is observed increased blood and plasma viscosity.