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PURPOSE: To investigate in parallel the systemic glutathione levels of patients suffering from primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or normal tension glaucoma (NTG) with comparable functional loss. METHODS: Thirty-four POAG patients, 30 NTG patients, and 53 controls were subjected to blood analysis to detect the level of circulating glutathione in its reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms. Systemic blood pressure (BP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) parameters were also determined. RESULTS: Independent of age, POAG and NTG patients demonstrated significantly lower GSH and t-GSH levels than age-matched controls (P < 0.001). Additionally, a lower redox index was found, but in POAG patients only, in comparison to both NTG and control groups (P = 0.020). GSSG levels were, however, similar between all study groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that both POAG and NTG patients exhibit lower GSH and t-GSH levels than age-matched controls, indicating a similar general compromise of the antioxidant defense systems may exist in both conditions.
Vascular Research Laboratory, Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom. d.gherghel@aston.ac.uk
Full article9.2.4 Normal pressure glaucoma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)
3.7 Biochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)