[Blood concentration of homocysteine, vitamin B (12), and folic acid in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration].

PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown a relationship between elevated levels of Hcy and vascular disease including cerebrovascular accidents and myocardial infarctions. Elevated Hcy plasma is considered as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and trombosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 30 patients with diagnosed exudative form of AMD. We evaluated plasma homocysteine levels, by high performance liquid chromatography and red blood cell folic acid, plasma folic acid and plasma vitamin B12 concentration by radioassay method. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of Hcy in AMD patients had significantly increased when compared with control group. We found not significant decrease of the plasma vitamin B12, red blood cell folic acid and plasma folic acid concentration in AMD group, when compared with the control group.