Increased cellular responsiveness to epinephrine in primary open-angle glaucoma

The concentration of I-epinephrine hydrochloride necessary to inhibit lymphocyte transformation by 50% (I50 value) was determined in vitro for nine patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and in seven controls. The lymphocytes of the patients with POAG were significantly (P less than .05) more responsive. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that patients with POAG have an increased responsiveness to agents that elevate intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels.