title: Homocysteine levels in aqueous humor and plasma of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
abstract: We determined homocysteine (Hcy) levels in aqueous humor (AH) and plasma and their association with B-vitamin levels in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and controls. Both AH Hcy and plasma Hcy levels were significantly increased in POAG, and elevation of AH Hcy and plasma Hcy was a significant risk factor for POAG. In contrast to controls, neither plasma nor AH Hcy of POAG patients demonstrated a significant association with important non-genetic determinants of elevated Hcy such as low B-vitamin levels, increasing age and caffeine consumption. Considering that Hcy is a neurotoxin that induces apoptotic retinal ganglion cell death via stimulation of the N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptor, increased Hcy concentrations in AH and plasma might contribute to the optic nerve damage in POAG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and University Eye Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Roedl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reulbach
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: von Ahsen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rejdak
authors.forename: G O H
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: A G M
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jünemann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D006867:Hydrolases; C463961:homocysteinase; D014805:Vitamin B 12