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Abstract #8191 Published in IGR 4-3
Significant variation of the elevated nitric oxide levels in aqueous humor from patients with different types of glaucoma
Tsai DC; Hsu WM; Chou CK; Chen SJ; Peng CH; Chi CW; Ho LLT; Liu JH; Chiou SHOphthalmologica 2002; 216: 346-350
Although several studies have shown that the biochemical function of nitric oxide (NO) in the eye may play an important role in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), local control of ocular blood flow and loss of retinal ganglion cells by apoptosis, it is unclear whether the role of NO is similar in the pathogenesis of different kinds of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), chronic closed-angle glaucoma (CCAG), and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). To further explore this issue, the authors measured the concentrations of NO in aqueous humor and plasma samples from patients with POAG (n = 31), CCAG (n = 76), NVG (n = 8), and cataract (n = 30). All the NVG patients suffered from severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy, while the other patients were free of any other systemic disease. The NO levels in both aqueous humor and plasma samples were assessed by chemiluminescence assay. The authors found that the NO levels in aqueous humor samples varied greatly in patients with POAG (36.2 ± 3.3 μM), CCAG (47.7 ± 3.4 μm) and NVG (65.8 ± 5.4 μm), and they were all significantly higher than in cataract patients (27.0 ± 2.9 μm; p < 0.05). Except for NVG patients, whose NO levels in plasma samples were highest (24.1 ± 3.5 μm) of all the groups, the plasma NO levels were not significantly different between the other glaucoma patients and the cataract patients. Therefore, the authors concluded that the significant variation in the elevated NO levels of aqueous humor samples of patients with different types of glaucoma may reflect the differences in their pathogenesis.
Shih-Hwa Chiou, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan (ROC). shchiou@vghtpe.gov.tw
Classification:
2.5 Meshwork (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
