Wydanie 3/2007
Czynnik wzrostu śródbłonka naczyń w patogenezie postaci wysiękowej zwyrodnienia plamki związanego z wiekiem
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Pathogenesis of Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Halina Wykrota, Krzysztof Trzciąkowski
Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny Nr 5 Śląskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach Dyrektor: prof. dr hab. n. med. Ariadna Gierek-Łapińska
Summary: Despite intensive and large scientific works on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis that have been made in last years accurate explanation of its origin remains unknown. We have learned anyway, that on the very early stage of the disease pathological angiogenesis is one of the major importances. New pathologic vessels grow from the fenestrated choriocapillaries and by crossing the Bruch?s membrane and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) harm the neuroretina. The new immature and leaky vessels cause oedema and bleeding and finally organize into fibrovascular tissue. These symptoms are responsible for severe vision loss that can occur in a very short time from the disease beginning. Although primary impulse for neovascularization is unknown, the whole process is similar to angiogenesis that plays an important role in physiological conditions as well. Vascular endothelial growth factor is considered to be a key element of angiogenesis cascade. Development of anti-VEGF compounds allows implementing new treatment modalities of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. In this review we describe VEGF?s features and the role that it plays in pathological ocular neovascularization.
Keywords: vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization