Levels of plasma homocysteine in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Abstract

Background To examine levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folic acid in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and healthy control subjects. Methods This study included 36 patients with PEXG, 40 with POAG, and 40 age-matched healthy subjects. Fasting plasma Hcy concentrations and levels of serum vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured using competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay; values exceeding 14 μm/l were considered elevated. Results Mean plasma Hcy was significantly higher in PEXG (16.55±7.23 μm/l) compared with POAG (13.91±3.61 μm/l) and controls (13.12±5.13 μm/l) (p=0.03 and p=0.0007 respectively).There were no statistical differences in serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels among PEXG, POAG and control subjects (p>0.05). A moderate, although statistically significant, relationship between Hcy and folic acid levels was found in the PEXG group (R 2 =0.23, p=0.003). Hcy levels were found not to be related with folic acid or vitamin B12 in either POAG or control subjects. Conclusions In this study, plasma Hcy is significantly higher in PEXG group than the POAG and control groups. Hyper-Hcy might play a role in the pathogenesis of PEXG. Hyper-Hcy may be an independent factor stressing vasculopathy in addition to pseudoexfoliation, so might be a modifiable risk factor for PEXG.

Serum YKL-40 levels as a novel marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

“…Homocysteine, a sulphurcontaining amino acid synthesized during the metabolism of methionine, is a well-known independent risk factor for vascular diseases, and may contribute to ischemic alterations and oxidative stress. 39 In this regard, in the present study patients with PEX had elevated YKL-40 levels, so it can be said that vascular disorders may have a role in the pathogenesis of PEX. Accordingly, we can speculate that both YKL-40 and homocysteine may have an indirect role in the pathogenesis of PEX by causing vascular disorders.…”

The Relationship between Caffeine and Coffee Consumption and Exfoliation Glaucoma or Glaucoma Suspect: A Prospective Study in Two Cohorts

“…Coffee consumption has been shown to increase plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels in several randomized clinical trials. [18][19][20] Hcy levels in plasma, [21][22][23][24][25][26] aqueous humor, 27 and tear fluid 28 are consistently elevated in ES patients compared to those in control subjects. Elevated Hcy may enhance exfoliation material formation by contributing to vascular damage, 29 oxidative stress, 30,31 and extracellular matrix alterations.…”

Plasma homocysteine, serum folic acid, serum vitamin B12, serum vitamin B6, MTHFR and risk of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: a meta-analysis

“…Of these, one article which contained overlapping data from the same patient source, and six which did not report the mean plasma tHcy levels of PEXG, were excluded. Thus, 14 studies [16,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] were included in this meta-analysis (Table 1).…”