Hepatic Lipase Gene may reduce risk of Macular Degeneration

Researchers reviewed data from 10 case-control studies that included advanced AMD¬† (choroidal neovascularization or geographic atrophy)¬† patients that had undergone genotyping. They were looking for a relationship between the LIPC variant and advanced AMD. The results were published in the online JAMA Ophthalmology on July 10. What this review revealed is that the risk of choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy was lessened by 20 and 29% respectively when the patient was carrying at least one copy of the T allele of the LIPC (hepatic lipase) gene. These study findings will hopefully lead to greater understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease as well as prevention and treatment of AMD.