Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with normal tension glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there is an association of elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG).


METHODS
Plasma levels of Hcy (fluorescence polarization immunoassay), vitamin B6 (high-performance liquid chromatography), vitamin B12, and folate levels (immunoassay) were determined in 42 patients with NTG and in 42 age-matched and sex-matched controls.


RESULTS
No significant difference regarding Hcy (NTG: 10.95 μmol/L±2.65; controls: 11.29 μmol/L±2.76) (P=0.639), vitamin B6 (NTG: 14.45 ng/mL±12.89; controls: 13.57 ng/mL±10.41) (P=0.629), vitamin B12 (NTG: 387.73 pg/mL±282.04; controls: 423.27 pg/mL±188.85) (P=0.052) and folate (NTG: 9.45ng/mL±3.42; controls: 10.82 ng/mL±4.48) (P=0.181) levels were found between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
An association of elevated Hcy levels and NTG was not found and therefore a role of Hcy as a modifiable risk factor in the pathogenesis of NTG seems unlikely.
Rössler
Christopher W
CW
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. christopher.roessler@uk-erlangen.de
Baleanu
Delia
D
Reulbach
Udo
U
Lewczuk
Piotr
P
Bleich
Stefan
S
Kruse
Friedrich E
FE
Kornhuber
Johannes
J
Schlötzer-Schrehardt
Ursula
U
Juenemann
Anselm G M
AG
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12