Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex, multifactorial disease that has yet to be completely understood. Significant efforts in the basic and clinical sciences have unveiled numerous areas which appear to be critical in the pathogenesis of this disease. The alternative complement pathway, immune cell activation, and autoimmunity are all emerging as important themes to the suspected immunologic origins of this disease. Advancement toward a complete understanding of these processes is important in development of new techniques for disease monitoring and treatment.
Keywords: AMD; anti-retinal autoantibodies; chemokine receptors; choroidal neovascularization; complement pathways; drusen; immunology; macrophage; toll-like receptors.