Reduction in blood glutathione levels occurs similarly in patients with primary-open angle or normal tension glaucoma

Doina Gherghel*, Stephanie Mroczkowska, Lu Qin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to) 3333-3339
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume54
Early online date18 Apr 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2013

Keywords

  • glutathione
  • normal tension glaucoma
  • open angle glaucoma

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