The genetic variant rs4073 A→T of the Interleukin-8 promoter region is associated with the earlier onset of exudative age-related macular degeneration

Purpose To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4073 in the interleukin-8 (IL-8) promoter region with the diagnosis and age of onset of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with the known genetic risk factors for AMD and tobacco smoking. Methods Medical records, smoking history and angiograms or fundus photographs of 301 patients with exudative AMD, 72 patients with dry AMD and 119 control subjects were analysed retrospectively. The associations of IL-8 rs4073 AT, CFH rs1061170 TC, ARMS2 rs10490924 GT and C3 rs2230199 CG SNPs with the presence of AMD and with the age of onset of exudative AMD were analysed. Results Younger age of exudative AMD onset was associated with the homozygous AA genotype of IL-8 rs4073 (p = 0.009, Mann–Whitney U-test), CC genotype of CFH rs1061170 (p = 0.016), TT genotype of ARMS2 rs10490924 (p = 0.001) and with current smoking (p = 0.002). The risk alleles C in CFH rs1061170 (p