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Total plasma homocysteine and primary open-angle glaucoma
Gloria Wang1, Felipe A Medeiros, Bruce A Barshop
1Departments of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California 92093-0946, USA.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 12, 2004
Summary
Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels did not differ significantly between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and healthy controls. This finding suggests tHcy is not a reliable biomarker for POAG diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is a known risk factor for vascular diseases.
- The role of tHcy in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) remains unclear.
- Understanding potential biomarkers for glaucoma is crucial for early detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plasma homocysteine levels in patients with POAG versus normal subjects.
- To investigate associations between tHcy and glaucoma diagnosis, considering various clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- Fasting total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Statistical analyses included ANOVA and multivariate analysis to compare tHcy levels and identify correlations.
Main Results:
- Mean tHcy levels were similar across POAG patients (14.90 ± 6.45 µmol/L), non-POAG patients (14.30 ± 4.35 µmol/L), and control subjects (14.81 ± 4.56 µmol/L).
- No significant difference in the proportion of individuals with abnormal tHcy levels was observed among the groups.
- Age and smoking status were the only significant correlates of tHcy levels in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Plasma homocysteine levels do not significantly differ between POAG patients and normal controls.
- tHcy is unlikely to be a specific biomarker for primary open-angle glaucoma.