Abstract
Purpose :
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to accelerated ageing of cells and tissues, and are known to accumulate in and around the optic nerve head. Accelerated ageing has been previously linked to the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether AGE levels, as a marker of accelerated ageing, are elevated in early stage POAG.
Methods :
Skin autofluorescence (SAF), as a validated measure of tissue-bound AGE levels, was assessed in 20 healthy early stage POAG patients and 36 age and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy controls (AGE Reader, DiagnOptics B.V., Groningen, The Netherlands). Dietary intake of exogenously derived AGEs was evaluated using a specifically designed food frequency questionnaire. Fasting blood glucose levels and blood pressure (BP) were recorded as potential covariates.
Results :
POAG patients had a significantly higher SAF level (11% higher, confidence interval 2% to 20%, p=0.02) in comparison to healthy control participants, however there was no significant difference in dietary AGE values between the two groups (p=0.40). Age, BMI, BP and fasting blood glucose levels were comparable across the POAG and healthy control participants.
Conclusions :
Tissue-bound AGE levels were found to be increased in patients diagnosed with early POAG. This adds to the evidence that accelerated ageing of ocular tissues may be a factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Further research is needed to explore the association between AGEs, oxidative stress, and mechanical and vascular changes, to determine the full potential of AGEs as a biomarker for glaucoma.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.