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Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1101-1104 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.152983
  • Original Article
  • Laboratory science

GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion genotypes in various spontaneous optic neuropathies in Arabs

  1. K K Abu-Amero1,
  2. B Milcarek2,
  3. T M Bosley1,3
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  2. 2
    Statistics Department, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA
  3. 3
    Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr K K Abu-Amero, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 245, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia; abuamero{at}gmail.com
  • Accepted 3 February 2009
  • Published Online First 13 March 2009

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether the prevalence GSTT1 and GSTM1 deletion genotypes (T0M1, T1M0 and T0M0) are increased in certain spontaneous optic neuropathies.

Methods: We compared the prevalence of GSTT1 and GSTM1 deletion genotypes in 108 Arab patients with optic neuritis (ON, 26 patients), LHON-like optic neuropathy (LLON, 35 patients), sporadic bilateral optic neuropathy in children (SBON, 21 patients) and non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION, 26 patients) to 120 ethnicity-matched controls. Genotypes were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Results: All three GST deletion genotypes were significantly more prevalent in the entire optic neuropathy group than in controls. When patients were stratified by optic neuropathy type, the prevalence of at least one deletion genotype was significantly increased in each type of optic neuropathy.

Conclusions: These results imply that GST malfunction in the setting of GST deletion genotypes may interfere with metabolism of oxidative intermediates and may exacerbate direct or indirect pathological effects of oxidative stress on the optic nerve in the setting of these spontaneous optic neuropathies. It is possible that these GST polymorphisms are risk factors for the types of optic neuropathies investigated here.

Footnotes

  • Funding KKA and TMB are supported by grants from the Glaucoma Research Chair at the Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Ethical Committee, King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

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