title: Levels of plasma homocysteine in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folic acid in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 36 patients with PEXG, 40 with POAG, and 40 age-matched healthy subjects. Fasting plasma Hcy concentrations and levels of serum vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured using competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay; values exceeding 14 μm/l were considered elevated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean plasma Hcy was significantly higher in PEXG (16.55 ± 7.23 μm/l) compared with POAG (13.91 ± 3.61 μm/l) and controls (13.12 ± 5.13 μm/l) (p = 0.03 and p = 0.0007 respectively). There were no statistical differences in serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels among PEXG, POAG and control subjects (p > 0.05). A moderate, although statistically significant, relationship between Hcy and folic acid levels was found in the PEXG group (R(2) = 0.23, p = 0.003). Hcy levels were found not to be related with folic acid or vitamin B12 in either POAG or control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, plasma Hcy is significantly higher in PEXG group than the POAG and control groups. Hyper-Hcy might play a role in the pathogenesis of PEXG. Hyper-Hcy may be an independent factor stressing vasculopathy in addition to pseudoexfoliation, so might be a modifiable risk factor for PEXG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopathology, Ophthalmology Division, University of Rome Tor Vergata and Fondazione PTV Policlinico Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1 - 00133, Rome, Italy. laura3661982@libero.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tranchina
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centofanti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oddone
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tanga
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liberatoscioli
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12