Nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor in cataract patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the clinical manifestations of cataract in different age and etiological groups.


METHODS
Multicenter study, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.


METHODS
Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 114 cataract patients in different etiological and age groups (eg, juvenile, traumatic, and age-related cataract). Using chemiluminescence assay, NO was detected through the light generated by ozone and NO interaction. The amount of NO production was calculated and compared among groups. The results were correlated with patient age.


RESULTS
The NO levels in aqueous humor were highest in the 12 patients with traumatic cataract and lowest in the 15 patients with juvenile cataract (47.59 micromol/L +/- 12.81 [SD] and 7.66 +/- 2.62 micromol/L, respectively; P <.001). Aqueous humor NO levels were correlated with age and were highest in patients older than 80 years (mean 38.78 +/- 6.29 micromol/L) and in those with mature cataract (mean 40.15 +/- 6.15 micromol/L) (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The NO levels in the aqueous humor increased with age and traumatic events. The results suggest that NO could be a risk factor in cataract formation.
Kao
Chung-Lan
CL
Department of Physical Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chou
Ching-Kuang
CK
Tsai
Der-Chong
DC
Hsu
Wen-Ming
WM
Liu
Jorn-Hon
JH
Wang
Chih-Shun
CS
Lin
Jung-Chun
JC
Wu
Chih-Chiau
CC
Peng
Chi-Hsieh
CH
Chang
Charn-Jung
CJ
Kao
Chung-Luen
CL
Chiou
Shih-Hwa
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002386:Cataract / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
D009569:Nitric Oxide