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Routine Blood Examination Predicts the Course of Disease in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation
Tatjana Sarenac Vulovic1,2, Katarina Cupic1,2, Nenad Petrovic1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Insights
Blood tests can help predict pseudoexfoliation disease progression. Increased monocyte and platelet counts, along with altered lipid profiles, are linked to advanced pseudoexfoliation syndrome and glaucoma.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and glaucoma are complex conditions.
- Understanding disease progression markers is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if blood examination parameters can predict the course of pseudoexfoliation disease.
- To identify potential hematological and lipid profile markers associated with disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 800 patients undergoing cataract surgery.
- Categorization into four groups: early pseudoexfoliation syndrome, late pseudoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and control.
- Analysis of blood cell counts (neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, monocytes, leucocytes) and lipid profiles.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in leucocyte, neutrophil, or lymphocyte counts across groups.
- Significant increases in monocyte and platelet counts observed in late-stage pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
- Elevated LDL cholesterol levels noted in patients with pseudoexfoliation compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Increased monocyte counts support a proinflammatory theory in pseudoexfoliation development.
- Platelets may influence monocyte activity and chronic inflammation in pseudoexfoliation.
- Disturbed lipid profiles are common in pseudoexfoliation patients, indicating higher cardiovascular risk.
Abstract:
Background and Objectives: Is it possible to predict the course of disease in patients with pseudoexfoliation based on blood examination? Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 800 patients recruited for cataract surgery in the Clinic of Ophthalmology, University Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Serbia. The patients were divided into four groups: pseudoexfoliation syndrome early stage group (n = 200 patients), pseudoexfoliation syndrome late stage group (n = 200 patients), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group (n = 200 patients) and the control group (n = 200 patients). During the preoperative process, some blood examination must be performed. We retrospectively used the results for the blood cell counts that we obtained from the patients. We recorded the neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, monocyte and leucocyte numbers, as well as the lipid profile, and simply calculated the ratio of their values, which we considered through different stages of the disease. Results: Our results indicated that there were no significant differences between all the groups examined in terms of leucocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte count, but we recorded significant differences in the monocyte and platelet count. It was interesting that the monocyte count increased in the late stage of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, in comparison with the control group and patients with early stage pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The lipid profile analysis indicated only increased values of LDL in patients with pseudoexfoliation (syndrome/glaucoma) in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: Monocytes are the main source of various cytokines, so our results support the proinflammatory theory of pseudoexfoliation development. Monocytes are the main cells in chronic inflammation, which leads to pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Platelets play an important role in the differentiation and activation of monocytes, as well as in the process of chronic inflammation and fibrosis, which are significant for pseudoexfoliation material production. A disturbed lipid profile in patients with pseudoexfoliation is expected, as they are at higher risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
