C-reactive protein and lipid profiles in Korean patients with normal tension glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and lipid profiles between Korean normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients and healthy controls.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 38 Korean patients with NTG and 38 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. We excluded the patients with cardiovascular risk factors and other systemic diseases that might affect CRP levels and lipid profiles. Each patient underwent a Humphrey visual field examination and blood sampling for hsCRP and lipid profile analyses. Subsequently, the NTG patients were classified into two groups based on their untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) level: low NTG (LNTG) with IOP < or = 13 mmHg (13 subjects) and high NTG (HNTG) with relatively high IOP (>13 and < or = 21 mmHg, 25 subjects). The hsCRP levels and lipid profiles were compared between NTG patients and healthy controls, and between LNTG, HNTG, and healthy controls.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in hsCRP and lipid profiles between either the NTG patients and healthy controls, or between the LNTG, HNTG, and controls (p>0.05) after exclusion of Korean patients with cardiovascular risk factors. There was no significant association between hsCRP and visual field indices (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein-related vascular inflammatory conditions may not be directly associated with the development of NTG, regardless of the untreated IOP level.
HanGil Eye Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Jaewan
J
Choi
Soo Geun
SG
Joe
Mincheol
M
Seong
Jin Young
JY
Choi
Kyung Rim
KR
Sung
Michael S
MS
Kook
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein