Elevated Plasma Level of 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine Is Associated with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

To determine the association between plasma 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, a marker for oxidative DNA damage, and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or its clinical phenotypes. Furthermore, we also examined the utility of plasma 8-OHdG as a potential biomarker in POAG.

In a retrospective case-control study, plasma samples were obtained from 50 POAG cases and 45 glaucoma-free controls matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. 8-OHdG levels were measured in duplicate using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on an automated ELISA analyzer.

There was no significant difference in age, sex, and systemic disease distribution between POAG cases and controls. Both mean and median 8-OHdG levels were significantly elevated in POAG cases and male subjects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve value for plasma 8-OHdG was 0.653 (95% confidence interval = 0.54-0.76, p = 0.010). The cutoff values based on quartile distribution and ROC curve analysis showed that elevated plasma 8-OHdG significantly increased the risk of POAG by more than 4-folds. Plasma 8-OHdG had a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 53%. In logistic regression analysis, 8-OHdG showed a significant effect on POAG outcome (p = 0.016) independent of age, sex, smoking, and systemic diseases. However, no significant correlation was observed between 8-OHdG and specific clinical markers of glaucoma such as intraocular pressure (p = 0.699), cup/disc ratio (p = 0.213), and the number of antiglaucoma medications (p = 0.603).

The study shows that there is a significant association between elevated plasma 8-OHdG and POAG, supporting the role of systemic oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in POAG pathogenesis. However, with a high rate of false-positivity, plasma 8-OHdG may lack the ability to serve as a potential biomarker in POAG. Further studies in a much larger cohort are needed to confirm these findings.