title: Glaucoma is associated with peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate peripheral vascular endothelial function in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using noninvasive endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with NTG, 30 with POAG, and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants underwent measurement of FMD and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation (NMD) via high-resolution 2-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging of the brachial artery. All patients also underwent blood sampling for biochemistry, lipid profile, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association of FMD with NTG and POAG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FMD values differed significantly between the patients with NTG, those with POAG, and controls: NTG, 2.70+/-2.25%; POAG, 5.33+/-2.81%; controls, 7.21+/-2.36%; P<0.001. In comparison with the POAG group and normal controls, the NTG group demonstrated markedly impaired FMD. The POAG group exhibited higher intermediate FMD than the NTG group (P<0.001) but significantly lower FMD than normal controls (P = 0.012). Multivariate analysis indicated that independent predictors for impaired FMD were presence of NTG, presence of POAG, and advanced age. Additionally, FMD values were significantly lower in glaucoma patients than in controls (4.02+/-2.85% vs. 7.21+/-2.36%; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with glaucoma have impaired FMD. Additionally, patients with NTG have lower FMD than those with POAG.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Wei-Wen
authors: WW
authors: Su
authors: Shih-Tsung
authors: ST
authors: Cheng
authors: Wan-Jing
authors: WJ
authors: Ho
authors: Pei-Kwei
authors: PK
authors: Tsay
authors: Shiu-Chen
authors: SC
authors: Wu
authors: Shirley H L
authors: SH
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001824:Body Constitution; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005996:Nitroglycerin