title: Homocysteine in tear fluid of patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations in tear fluid and plasma and their association with B-vitamin levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reflex tear and blood samples were obtained in 30 patients with PEXG and 30 controls. Hcy levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hcy was detected in all tear fluid samples of patients with PEXG and controls. Statistical analysis with t tests showed that patients with PEXG had significantly higher Hcy levels both in tear fluid (237+/-133 nmol/L vs. 128+/-54 nmol/L; P<0.001) and in plasma (14.51+/-4.43 micromol/L vs. 10.22+/-2.77 micromol/L; P<0.001) than control subjects. Hcy in tear fluid correlated significantly with Hcy in plasma (r=0.438, P=0.015) and with serum B12 levels (r=-0.424, P=0.019) in patients with PEXG, but not in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests increased Hcy levels in tear fluid and plasma of patients with PEXG. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the possible clinical role of Hcy in ocular surface and systemic disorders associated with PEXG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and University Eye Hospital, Germany. Johannes.Roedl@augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Roedl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reulbach
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rejdak
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Friedrich E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.forename: Anselm G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jünemann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D014805:Vitamin B 12