Diagnostics and the therapeutics for macular degeneration
AssigneeUniversity of Iowa Research Foundation
InventorGregory S. Hageman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to diagnostics and therapeutics and animal models for macular degeneration, specifically as they relate to the association described herein between macular degeneration and arterial wall disruptive disorders. In one embodiment, the invention provides kits and methods for diagnosing macular degeneration comprising identifying a marker for an arterial wall disruptive disorder, including an aneurysm. In one embodiment, the invention provides therapeutics for treating macular degeneration comprising delivering to a subject an agent useful for treating an arterial wall disruptive disorder, including an aneurysm.
Claims7
A method for assessing a subject's risk for age-related macular degeneration, comprising:
- (a) providing a blood sample from a subject to be tested for age-related macular degeneration;
- and
- (b) determining whether the sample has protein markers for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), wherein
- a difference in the level of the protein markers relative to the level of the same marker in a control population comprising individuals that do not have AAA and/or age-related macular degeneration is an indication that the subject is at risk for age-related macular degeneration, wherein the protein markers for AAA are EDPs (elastin degradation products) and wherein the level of EDPs is elevated compared to the control population.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.