ELN and age-related macular degeneration: Secondly, subjects with neovascular AMD had higher levels of serum elastin-derived peptides (S-EDPs) suggesting that higher levels of S-EDPs may increase the risk of conversion from early AMD to neovascular AMD.[8] Dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD, whether mediated via inflammation or injury.