TY - JOUR
T1 - Twin study of age-related macular degeneration
AU - Grizzard, W. Sanderson
AU - Arnett, Donna
AU - Haag, Scott L.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - PURPOSE: To evaluate the genetic contribution in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) by a disease-ascertained twin study. METHODS: Concordance rates for ARMD in 25 twins were obtained by using four masked graders to confirm the diagnosis of ARMD and place subjects in one of three categories; concordant, intermediate, or discordant. Demographic features and known risk factors for ARMD were compared between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs. RESULTS: Of the 25 twin pairs, 15 were monzygotic and 10 were dizygotic. All 15 monozygotic twins were concordant or intermediate for ARMD. Of the dizygotic twin pairs, only one was concordant and five were discordant. In the demographic and risk factor analysis no unusual contributing or confounding variables were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The association between zygosity and concordance for ARMD suggests a major importance for genetics in the etiology of ARMD. Our data further support a multi-factorial, primarily polygenic etiology for the condition.
AB - PURPOSE: To evaluate the genetic contribution in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) by a disease-ascertained twin study. METHODS: Concordance rates for ARMD in 25 twins were obtained by using four masked graders to confirm the diagnosis of ARMD and place subjects in one of three categories; concordant, intermediate, or discordant. Demographic features and known risk factors for ARMD were compared between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs. RESULTS: Of the 25 twin pairs, 15 were monzygotic and 10 were dizygotic. All 15 monozygotic twins were concordant or intermediate for ARMD. Of the dizygotic twin pairs, only one was concordant and five were discordant. In the demographic and risk factor analysis no unusual contributing or confounding variables were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The association between zygosity and concordance for ARMD suggests a major importance for genetics in the etiology of ARMD. Our data further support a multi-factorial, primarily polygenic etiology for the condition.
KW - Age-related macular degeneration
KW - Genetics
KW - Polygenic etiology
KW - Twin study
KW - Zygosity
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U2 - 10.1076/opep.10.5.315.17317
DO - 10.1076/opep.10.5.315.17317
M3 - Article
C2 - 14566632
AN - SCOPUS:0345377752
SN - 0928-6586
VL - 10
SP - 315
EP - 322
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
IS - 5
ER -