Original Paper

CFH Gene Variant, Y402H, and Smoking, Body Mass Index, Environmental Associations with Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Johanna M. Seddon^{a, b}, Sarah George^a, Bernard Rosner^c, Michael L. Klein<sup>d

a</sup>Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School,
^bDepartment of Epidemiology, and
^cChanning Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.,
^dDevers Eye Institute, Macular Degeneration Center, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oreg., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Hum Hered 2006;61:157-165 (DOI: 10.1159/000094141)

  Key Words

• Case-control association analysis
• Environmental risk factor
• Epidemiologic approaches
• Gene-environment interaction
• Genotype
• Macular degeneration

  Abstract

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that modifiable lifestyle factors alter the genetic susceptibility associated with a common coding variant in the complement factor H (CFH) gene, Y402H, for the leading cause of blindness among the elderly, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this case-control association analysis, Caucasian participants in the multicenter Age-Related Eye Disease Study with advanced AMD (n = 574 cases) or no AMD (n = 280 controls) were evaluated. AMD status was determined by grading of fundus photographs. Risk factors including cigarette smoking and body mass index (BMI) were assessed and DNA specimens were genotyped for the variant in the CFH gene. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed. Attributable risks and multivariable AMD risk scores were calculated. Results: The number of risk alleles for Y402H was associated with advanced AMD, with odds ratios (OR) of 2.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-3.8) for the CT heterozygous genotype and OR 7.4 (4.7-11.8) for the homozygous CC risk genotype, after controlling for demographic and behavioral risk factors. Current cigarette smoking (OR 5.1) and high BMI 30 (OR 2.1) were independently related to AMD, controlling for genotype. The association between AMD and BMI varied dependent on genotype (P interaction = 0.006 for the CT vs. TT genotype). The CC genotype plus higher BMI (OR 5.9) or smoking (OR 10.2) conferred the greatest risks. Gene plus environment risk scores provided an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.70-0.75. Conclusions: Genetic and environmental factors are independently related to advanced AMD, and modifiable factors alter genetic susceptibility. The AMD risk score identifies a highly susceptible population.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Johanna M. Seddon, MD, ScM
Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
243 Charles St.
Boston, MA 02114 (USA)
Tel. +1 617 573 4011, Fax +1 617 573 4021, E-Mail Johanna_Seddon@meei.harvard.edu

  Article Information

Received: April 13, 2006
Accepted: April, 14, 2006
Published online: June 30, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 35