Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TRACE ELEMENTS AND ELECTROLYTES, cilt.34, sa.4, ss.166-170, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)
To investigate the urine iodine level of patients with dry- and wet-type age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and to compare with those of normal healthy volunteers. ARMD is a leading cause of severe vision loss in developed countries and the pathogenesis has not yet been fully clarified. The ciliary body of the eye and lacrimal gland concentrate iodine, and their anti-oxidative capacities are increased by iodine because of its antioxidant properties. Urine samples were received from 23 normal healthy volunteers (group I), 23 patients with wet-type (group II) and, 23 patients with dry- type ARMD (group III). Urinary iodine concentration was determined spectrophotometrically using the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. The iodine levels were significantly lower in group II (4.04 +/- 1.12 mu g/dL) and in group III (9.73 +/- 1.85 mu g/dL) compared to group I (the control group: 17.21 +/- 1.65 mu g/ dL) (p < 0.001). The iodine levels of group II were lower than those of group III (p < 0.001). Tight junctions between retina pigment epithelial cells promoted by iodine assist in the prevention of fluid passage between the neural retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. Low iodine levels in patients with ARMD may be a possible indication of the degeneration of these tight junctions. Therefore, iodine deficiency could be a risk factor for neovascular ARMD. Urinary iodine excretion is used as the most convenient, rapid, and low-cost laboratory marker to determine iodine deficiency, and it may be used to follow up ARMD. Iodine supplementation might be useful to prevent the development of macular edema associated with ARMD.