DIAGNOSTIC MARKER FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIAGNOSTIC KIT, DIAGNOSIS ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND ONSET RISK DETERMINATION METHOD

摘要

Provided is a method for enabling the onset of age-related macular degeneration and a risk prior to onset to be diagnosed simply and at an early stage. It was found that HTRA1 protein expression increases not only in ocular tissue but also in the blood of a subject as a result of mutation of the HTRA1 gene contained in patients with age-related macular degeneration. HTRA1 protein in the blood of a subject is a diagnostic marker of age-related macular degeneration. The subject is diagnosed as having age-related macular degeneration if the level of HTRA1 protein in the blood is 4.0 ng/ml or more.