title: Nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor in cataract patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chung-Lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Ching-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Der-Chong
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jorn-Hon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chih-Shun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jung-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chih-Chiau
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chi-Hsieh
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Charn-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chung-Luen
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Shih-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide