Plasma malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in age related macular degeneration

Aims-To evaluate alteration of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxid e (NO) levels in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration ( ARMD). Methods-Plasma. nitrite plus nitrate concentrations as an index of plasma N O levels and plasma MDA level as a marker of lipid peroxidation were measur ed in patients with exudative ARMD and age and sex matched healthy subjects . Results-Significantly higher MDA and lower NO levels were detected in plasm a of patients with ARMD compared with their controls (p=0.01, p=0.001, resp ectively). Conclusion-The results may support involvement of oxidative damage and vasc ular theory in the pathogenesis of ARMD as part of the ageing process.