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Genetics may foretell treatment response in AMD
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Genetic factors may be important in determining success of treatment of anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration.
 Jaclyn L. Kovach |
Genetic associations for the genotypic expression of AMD have been well-established, Jaclyn L. Kovach, MD, said at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting. Less well-known, she said, is whether high-risk genetic polymorphisms may influence individual response to therapy.
In a retrospective analysis of 36 patients treated with anti-VEGF agents at a single center who also underwent genotypic analysis, there was no significant association between presence of well-known high-risk alleles and response to therapy.
However, "a higher proportion of responders than nonresponders carry at least one risk allele at ARMS2, at complement factor H or at both genes," Dr. Kovach said.
Dr. Kovach said she plans to enroll more patients into the analysis to flesh out whether the signal is significant.