[Hormonal changes in open-angle glaucoma. II. Levels of cortisol and somatotropin in serum]

Observing interrelation between carbohydrate metabolism disorders and contrainsular mechanisms in a group of 102 glaucomatous patients, a higher level of cortisol in plasma was detected in 40.2% of glaucomatous patients of whom 31% had increased levels of cortisol together with IRI. In isolation the increased level of cortisol occurred in 8.9%. The frequency of increased cortisol level in glaucomatous patients is substantially lower (40.2%) than the frequency of abnormal insulin curves (78%). Increased levels of growth hormone in the group of patients occurred in 9.3% of cases and these were almost always associated with an abnormal immuno-reactive insulin curve (IRI curve). Accordingly, it is evident that hormonal disorders are a major factor in the onset of both diabetes and glaucoma.