title: [Endothelial dysfunction in patients with open-angle glaucoma and atheromatous lesions].
abstract: A number of observations revealed that the haemodynamic alteration may contribute to pathogenesis of glaucomatous neuropathy. Endothelial dysfunction associated with atherosclerosis impaired the endothelial dependent vasodilatation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between the endothelial dysfunction (assessed by plasma NO level) and carotid stenosis degree în primary open angle-glaucoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carotid ultrasonography and plasma NOx level (nitrite and nitrate) were obtained from 3 groups of patients: group 1-patients with primary open angle-glaucoma and carotid stenosis; group 2-patients with carotid stenosis and group 3-healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant lower NO level (compared with group 3) and a significant higher carotid stenosis (compared with group 2) were found în primary open angle-glaucoma patients. There was a significant correlation between the NOx level and carotid stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing the carotid atherosclerotic plaques may be benefical for the patients with primary open angle-glaucoma. Pharmacological neuroprotection with NO precursors may be useful for the patients with carotid stenosis associated with primary open angle-glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulboacă
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulboacă
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicula
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide