Hyperhomocystinemia in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hyperhomocystinemia in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.


METHODS
This prospective study included 30 patients with glaucoma and 30 age-matched controls with no history of ocular disease who were undergoing routine physical checkups. Plasma homocysteine levels of all the study participants were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and values exceeding 15 micromol/L were considered elevated.


RESULTS
The mean plasma homocysteine level was 16.80 +/- 3.20 and 12.39 +/- 1.97 micromol/L in glaucoma patients and controls, respectively (P<0.0001). Fifteen glaucoma patients (50%) had hyperhomocystinemia compared with 3 controls (10%) (P=0.0015).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperhomocystinemia may be associated with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, which may partially explain the increased risk of vascular diseases among patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
Leibovitch
Igal
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel. lleibo@bezeqint.net
Kurtz
Shimon
S
Shemesh
Gabi
G
Goldstein
Michaella
M
Sela
Ben-ami
BA
Lazar
Moshe
M
Loewenstein
Anat
A
D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006710:Homocysteine