Complement C3 Variant and the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A variant on complement factor 3 is associated with age-related macular degeneration, with a population attributable risk of 22%. This finding underlines the importance of complement activation in the pathogenesis of the disease. A variant on complement factor 3 is associated with age-related macular degeneration, with a population attributable risk of 22%. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment in the elderly and the most common cause of blindness in Western countries. 1 It affects the macular region of the retina. The macula has a high density of photoreceptors and provides detailed central vision. In the early stages of the disease (referred to as age-related maculopathy), deposits called drusen develop between the retinal pigment epithelium and underlying choroid. 1 Later, the disease is manifested as either extensive atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and overlying photoreceptor cells (geographic atrophy) or aberrant choroidal angiogenesis (choroidal neovascularization). 1 Both of these conditions can lead . . .