Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish the antioxidant status and oxidative stress in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG).
Methods: Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as indicators of antioxidant status; and total oxidant status (TOS), nitric oxide (NO), protein carbonyl (PC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) as indicators of oxidative stress were measured from the blood samples of patients with POAG (n = 23), PEG (n = 24) and healthy control subjects (n = 19) by spectrophotometry.
Results: Mean TAC level was 0.6 ± 0.1 mmol/L in the POAG group; 0.5 ± 0.1 mmol/L in the PEG group and 1.2 ± 0.3 mmol/L in the control group (p = 0.001). Mean SOD level was 13 ± 0.5 mg/L in the POAG group, 11.6 ± 0.2 mg/L in the PEG group and 9.4 ± 0.6 mg/L in the control group (p = 0.001). Mean TOS level was 19.6 ± 2.6 μmol/L in the POAG group, 21.2 ± 4.2 μmol/L in the PEG group and 15.1 ± 7 μmol/L in the control group (p = 0.001). Mean NO level was 74.3 ± 14.4 µmol/L in the POAG group, 66.1 ± 8.1 µmol/L in the PEG group and 62.3 ± 13.5 µmol/L in the control group (p = 0.005). Mean PC level was 641.5 ± 102.5 nmol/mg in the POAG group, 988.3 ± 214.7 nmol/mg in the PEG group and 654.4 ± 150.7 nmol/mg in the control group (p = 0.001). Mean MDA level was 1.9 ± 0.2 µmol/L in the POAG group, 1.7 ± 0.4 µmol/L in the PEG group and 1.1 ± 0.2 µmol/L in the control group (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study are potentially of significance and add to the growing body of evidence for oxidative stress in POAG and PEG. Decreased antioxidant defense and increased oxidative stress system may play an important role in the pathogenesis of POAG and PEG.