title: Status of systemic oxidative stresses in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The involvement of local and systemic oxidative stress in intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and optic nerve damage has been hypothesized in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. To test this, we measured the systemic levels of prooxidants and antioxidants by analyzing the blood biochemistry in patients with glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected from Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (PG) (n = 206), exfoliation syndrome (EX) (n = 199), and controls (n = 126). Plasma levels of lipid peroxides, ferric-reducing activity, and thiol antioxidant activity were measured by diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (dROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and sulfhydryl (SH) tests, respectively, using a free radical analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PG, EX, and control groups, the mean ± standard deviation values were 355±63, 357±69, and 348±56 (U. Carr), respectively, for dROM; 1,951±282, 1,969±252, and 2,033±252 (µmol/L), respectively, for BAP (µmol/L); and 614±98, 584±91, and 617±99 (µmol/L), respectively, for SH. The differences in the BAP values were significant between the PG and control groups (p = 0.0062), for SH between the EX and control groups (p = 0.0017), and for SH between the PG and EX groups (p = 0.0026). After adjustment for differences in age and sex among groups using multiple regression analysis, lower BAP values were correlated significantly with PG (p = 0.0155) and EX (p = 0.0049). Higher dROM values with and without glaucoma were correlated with female gender, and lower SH values with older age. There were no significant differences between the higher (≥21 mmHg) and lower (<21 mmHg) baseline IOPs in the PG group or between the presence or absence of glaucoma in the EX group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower systemic antioxidant capacity that measured by ferric-reducing activity is involved in the pathogenesis of PG and EX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan. tanito-oph@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanito
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaidzu
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide