Features of the inflammatory process in patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration

Background: The priority problem of modern gerontology and geriatrics is currently social isolation, which represents an objective individual condition and reflects the absence of social relationships or the rarity of social contacts. Together with the latter, an inflammatory response is actively involved in the formation of social isolation, but it has only been studied in social isolation in isolated publications on changes in the systemic blood flow of classic markers of inflammation – C-reactive protein and IL-6 – and has not been considered at all in patients with age-related macular degeneration. The aim of the study: To study the features of the inflammatory process in patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration. Materials and methods: 92 60-74 year-old patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration, as well as 88 patients of the same age with social isolation without age-related macular degeneration were examined. The identification of social isolation was performed using a modified index of social isolation. Age-related macular degeneration was diagnosed based on the classification criteria of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study and based on the results of a multidisciplinary ophthalmological examination. Inflammation was assessed by the content of C-reactive protein, interleukins and chemokines in peripheral blood. Results: Statistically significantly higher levels of all studied biomarkers of inflammation were found in elderly patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration compared with representatives with only social isolation. Especially significantly in patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration, the blood content of the chemokines GRO(α)/CXCL1 and MIP-1(α)/CCL3 was higher, the expression of which was 18.3±1.4 pg/ml and 3.8±0.7 pg/ml, respectively, versus 6.4±0.9 pg/ml and 1.7±0.3 pg/ml in the group of people with social isolation. In patients with social isolation and age-related macular degeneration, the blood content of IL-6 was significantly higher, reaching 50.2±2.2 pg/ml versus 24.9±1.4 pg/ml in the group of people with social isolation (P<0.001). It should also be noted that the increased level of IL-7 increased to 24.5±1.7 pg/ml versus 14.3±0.9 pg/ml, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: The combination of social isolation and age-related macular degeneration in old age is accompanied by a higher content of all markers of inflammation and, above all, cytokines GRO(α)/CXCL1, MIP-1(α)/CCL3 and IL-6, which should be used as markers of social isolation in age-related macular degeneration.