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Abstract #19051 Published in IGR 3-1
Elevated nitric oxide level in aqueous humor of patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma
Chiou SH; Chang C-J; Hsu WM; Kao CL; Liu JH; Chen WL; Tsai DC; Wu CC; Chou CKOphthalmologica 2001; 215: 113-116
Nitric oxide, a noxious and free-radical gas, plays a key role in vasodilatation, inflammation, immunity, and neurotoxicity. Studies have shown that a recently detected NO synthase inducible isoform, found in astrocytes in the optic nerve heads of glaucoma patients, could stimulate excessive production of NO. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of NO production in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The authors measured the concentrations of NO in aqueous humor from 11 patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) and 14 patients with cataract. All samples were collected from patients who were free of any other systemic disease. Utilizing a chemiluminescence assay, they found that in AACG patients the NO levels in aqueous humor samples (83.2 ± 6.7 μm) were significantly higher than in cataract patients (27.1 ± 3.6 μm; p < 0.001). The authors therefore concluded that excessive NO in AACG patients reflects the degree of ocular impairment demonstrated by concomitant retinal cell and optic nerve cell damage.
Dr S.H. Chiou, Department of Ophthalmology, Veteran General Hospital-Taipei and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, ROC
Classification:
9.3.1 Acute primary angle closure glaucoma (pupillary block) (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.3 Primary angle closure glaucomas)