title: Cataract induction by administration of nitroglycerin in cardiac patients through imbalance in redox status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of nitroglycerin in the pathogenesis of cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in adults from tertiary Saudi Arabian hospitals (34 males and 26 females in each group, aged from 40 to 60 years), who were divided into four groups with an equal number of subjects (control group, cardiac group, idiopathic cataract group, and a group of cardiac patients using nitroglycerin and with cataracts). Fasting glucose concentrations, blood glycated hemoglobin levels, lipid profiles, and levels of nitrite, conjugated dienes (CD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of cardiac patients with nitroglycerin produced an imbalance in their systemic redox status, leading to the development of cataracts, which was reflected by a significant increase in the levels of nitrite, CD, and TBARS and a significant decrease in SOD activity and GSH, compared with idiopathic cataract patients. The results of correlation studies and multiple regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between different biochemical parameters (GSH, SOD, TBARS, CD, and nitrite) in the blood and lens in both idiopathic cataract patients and cardiac patients treated with nitroglycerin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study points to the relative and predictive effects of nitric oxide derived from nitroglycerin in the development of cataract in the presence of the oxidative stress induced by nitroglycerin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta.
authors.forename: Rehab M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: El-Gharabawy
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Hormone Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services Department, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amal H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Najjar
keywords: cataract; lens; nitrite; nitroglycerin; oxidative stress