Serum superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels in a group of Chinese patients with age-related macular degeneration

Background and aims : The aim of this study was to investigate superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity together with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in a group of Chinese patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods : Serum SOD activity and MDA levels were analysed in 56 AMD patients with subtypes (early dry, geographic atrophy, and wet) and 34 healthy controls matched with age and sex. Results : Serum MDA levels were significantly higher in AMD (3.68±1.06 nmol/mL) than in controls (2.83±0.43 nmol/mL; p=0.000), and was significantly higher in wet AMD (3.79±0.79 nmol/mL) than in early dry AMD (3.26±0.99 nmol/mL; p =0.038). Serum SOD activity was significantly higher in AMD (87.12±13.22 U/mL) than in controls (79.91±11.80 U/mL; p =0.012), and slightly higher in wet AMD (89.52±16.25 U/mL) than in GA (83.62+_9.75 U/mL; p =0.275) and early dry AMD (81.64±18.90 U/mL; p =0.093). There was a positive correlation between serum MDA levels and SOD activities in AMD patients and controls (r=0.320, p =0.002). Conclusions : The observed increase in SOD activity in our study may be related to increased MDA levels, as a compensatory regulation in response to oxidative stress in AMD patients. The present data also demonstrate that oxido-reduction disturbance may be hypothesized in the pathogenesis of AMD.