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Levels of plasma homocysteine in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

  • Glaucoma
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

To examine levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folic acid in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and healthy control subjects.

Methods

This study included 36 patients with PEXG, 40 with POAG, and 40 age-matched healthy subjects. Fasting plasma Hcy concentrations and levels of serum vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured using competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay; values exceeding 14 μm/l were considered elevated.

Results

Mean plasma Hcy was significantly higher in PEXG (16.55 ± 7.23 μm/l) compared with POAG (13.91 ± 3.61 μm/l) and controls (13.12 ± 5.13 μm/l) (p = 0.03 and p = 0.0007 respectively).

There were no statistical differences in serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels among PEXG, POAG and control subjects (p > 0.05). A moderate, although statistically significant, relationship between Hcy and folic acid levels was found in the PEXG group (R2 = 0.23, p = 0.003). Hcy levels were found not to be related with folic acid or vitamin B12 in either POAG or control subjects.

Conclusions

In this study, plasma Hcy is significantly higher in PEXG group than the POAG and control groups. Hyper-Hcy might play a role in the pathogenesis of PEXG. Hyper-Hcy may be an independent factor stressing vasculopathy in addition to pseudoexfoliation, so might be a modifiable risk factor for PEXG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biopathology, Ophthalmology Division, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Fondazione PTV “Policlinico Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier, 1 - 00133, Rome, Italy

    Laura Tranchina, Marco Centofanti, Gloria Roberti & Gianluca Manni

  2. Fondazione G.B. Bietti-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Marco Centofanti, Francesco Oddone, Lucia Tanga & Gianluca Manni

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Fondazione PTV “Policlinico Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Laura Liberatoscioli & Claudio Cortese

Authors
  1. Laura Tranchina
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  2. Marco Centofanti
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  3. Francesco Oddone
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  4. Lucia Tanga
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  5. Gloria Roberti
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  6. Laura Liberatoscioli
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  7. Claudio Cortese
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  8. Gianluca Manni
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Correspondence to Laura Tranchina.

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Tranchina, L., Centofanti, M., Oddone, F. et al. Levels of plasma homocysteine in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 249, 443–448 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1487-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1487-6

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