Patent ID: 7344846
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: A61K,A61P,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for diagnosing, or identifying a predisposition to the development of, a macular degeneration-related disorder in a subject, comprising detecting in a biological sample from the subject the presence or abnormal levels of an autoantibody against, or an immune complex containing, at least one macular degeneration-associated molecule selected from the group consisting of glucose-regulated protein 78 kD (GRP-78), complement 1q binding protein/hyaluronic acid binding protein, albumin, pyruvate carboxylase, and villin 2, wherein the presence or abnormal levels of said autoantibody is indicative of a macular degeneration-related disorder or a predisposition to the development of a macular degeneration-associated molecule.