The Relationship Between Red Blood Cell Indices and Open Angle Glaucoma Progression

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Prior studies looking at the relationship between Hematocrit (Hct) and Open Angle Glaucoma (OAG) have been inconclusive. Thus, it is important to determine whether red blood cell indices affect the rate of OAG progression. Methods: OAG patient data consisting of at least three Visual Field (VF) tests and Hct levels from 1996 to 2004 were collected from San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC). In this retrospective chart review, Hct levels and corresponding VF data were collected for 111 patients. Changes in VF mean deviation (MD) and changes in VF pattern standard deviation (PSD) per year were compared to Hemoglobin (Hb), Hct, Mean Corpuscle Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscle Hb (MCH), and Mean Corpuscle Hb Concentration (MCHC). Results: The mean Hb is 13.6 g/dL, Hct is 40.3%, mean MCV is 90.1fL, mean MCH is 30.1pg, mean MCHC is 33.4 gm/dL. No statistically significant associations were found between average change in MD per year and average change in PSD per year when compared to Hb, Hct, MCV, and MCH (P>0.05). A statistically significant association exists between MCHC and MD; the change in MD per year, per unit of MCHC is 0.38 [95% CI, 0.08–0.68 (P<0.016)]. However, the change in PSD per year, per unit of MCHC was not statistically significant.Conclusions:No statistically significant associations were seen between OAG progression (change in MD per year and change in PSD per year) when compared to Hb, Hct, MCV, and MCH. Furthermore, the association between OAG progression and MCHC warrants further investigation.

Keywords: visual fields • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications