Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness in industrialized countries. Multiple molecular pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Currently, the treatment relies on neutralization of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). However some patients have an incomplete response to anti-VEGF treatment. A recent study suggested the implication of the mineralocorticoid receptor pathway in the formation of CNV.
The study (of investigators) aim is to evaluate the concentration of metabolites of MR pathway in the blood and aqueous humor of patients with CNV and compared them with patients without CNV in order to increase our understanding of CNV pathogenesis and find potential biomarker of response to anti-VEGF treatment.