Abstract
Purpose: :
To analyze the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, and the total antioxidant capacity in the blood and aqueous humor of glaucomatous patients.
Methods: :
Nine patients, aged 63-85 years (mean age 76,2 ± 2,12 years), with primary open-angle glaucoma and nineteen age-matched patients without POAG were included in the study. Blood and aqueous humor samples of all participants were collected during cataract surgery. MDA concentrations were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) (see Lazzarino G, 1991). The total antioxidant capacity of the samples was assessed by the ORAC method (see Cao G. 1999).
Results: :
The MDA values are significantly higher in POAG patients than in the control group at the level of blood plasma (1,15 ± 0,17 µmol/ml vs 0,42 ± 0,42 µmol/ml; p<0,001) and aqueous humor (0,17 ± 0,06 µmol/ml vs 0,05 ± 0,05 µmol/ml; p<0,001). The total antioxidant capacity is significantly lower in glaucoma patients in both blood plasma (2,82 ± 0,71 µmol Trolox Equivalents/g vs 3,24 ± 0,78 µmol Trolox Equivalents/g; p<0,001) and aqueous humor (0,48 ± 0,29 µmol Trolox Equivalents/g vs 0,98 ± 0,44 µmol Trolox Equivalents/g; p=0,005).
Conclusions: :
Our study confirms that primary open-angle glaucoma is associated with an increased oxidative stress and a decrease of antioxidant capacity at the level of blood plasma and aqueous humor. In glaucoma patients the ocular oxidative stress appears related to a systemic oxidative status and this event may play a pathogenical role in the POAG.
Keywords: oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage • antioxidants • aqueous