Red blood cell (RBC) surface acetylcholinesterase showing a hemorheological pattern during glaucoma treatment.
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is currently attributed to two different possible pathogenetic mechanisms: mechanical (the ocular damage is induced by physical injury), and vascular (the ocular damage is sustained by ischemia of the optic nerve head).


OBJECTIVE
We considered the possibility that several anti-glaucoma drugs (beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandins) could have an influence on optic nerve head hemorheology and oxygen supply.


METHODS
We studied 4 groups of 10 subjects each: a control group, and 3 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) groups, treated with topical beta-blockers, (10 patients), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI), and prostaglandin analogs (PG), respectively. In these 4 groups we investigated the RBC surface AchE and cytosolic calcium levels in order to assess their possible influence on the hemorheology and microcirculation in optic nerve head blood perfusion.


RESULTS
A significant correlation (p < 0.048) was found between the RBC surface acetylcholinesterase and RBC intracytosolic calcium values in patients with POAG treated with beta-blockers. We found no significant correlation (p = n.s.) between the same patterns in the other Groups or in Controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that CAI and PG drugs do not interfere with AchE in POAG patients, whereas beta-blockers negatively affect the RBC deformability.
Cicco
Giuseppe
G
CEMOT, University of Bari, Italy. gcicco.emo@tiscali.it
Vetrugno
Michele
M
Rotelli
Maria Teresa
MT
Sborgia
Giancarlo
G
Pennetta
Massimiliano
M
Vico
Pier Paolo
PP
Memeo
Vincenzo
V
Nitti
Luigi
L
Sborgia
Carlo
C
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000187:drug effects*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011465:Prostaglandins, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D011465:Prostaglandins, Synthetic; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002118:Calcium