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Nitric oxide proxies and ocular perfusion pressure in primary open angle glaucoma
  1. F Galassi1,
  2. G Renieri1,
  3. A Sodi1,
  4. F Ucci1,
  5. L Vannozzi1,
  6. E Masini2
  1. 1Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Sciences, University of Florence, Eye Unit II, Florence, Italy
  2. 2Department of Clinical and Preclinical Pharmacology, Florence, Italy
  1. Correspondence to: Professor F Galassi Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Sciences, University of Florence, Eye Unit II, Via S Marta 24, 50139 Florence, Italy; fernando.galassiunifi.it

Abstract

Background: To investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO) markers in plasma and aqueous humour of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and their relation to ocular perfusion pressure.

Methods: Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and nitrite (NO2) were determined in plasma and aqueous humour of 38 patients with POAG and 46 controls. Blood pressure and IOP were measured to calculate ocular perfusion pressure (PP).

Results: cGMP and NO2 plasma levels were significantly decreased in glaucoma patients compared with controls (p = 0.001 v p = 0.004). In the aqueous humour of subjects with POAG, cGMP and NO2 concentrations were also lower than in normal eyes (p = 0.0001 v p = 0.001). There was a linear association between cGMP in plasma and aqueous humour in glaucomas and controls (r = 0.514, p = 0.029 and r = 0.558, p = 0.004) and this relation differed in the two groups (p = 0.003). Considering glaucoma patients with controls, a positive correlation was found between cGMP and PP (r = 0.379, p = 0.01) and between NO2 and PP (r = 0.339, p = 0.040). The cGMP/PP correlation was of borderline statistical significance in controls (p = 0.050), whereas it did not attain statistical significance in POAG, as well as the association between NO2 and PP when glaucomas and controls were considered separately.

Conclusions: The authors found alterations of NO markers in the plasma and aqueous humour of glaucoma patients. Primary or secondary impaired NO balance could alter ocular perfusion pressure.

  • primary open angle glaucoma
  • nitric oxide
  • ocular perfusion pressure
  • cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate
  • NO, nitric oxide
  • NOS, nitric oxide synthase
  • POAG, primary open angle glaucoma
  • PP, perfusion pressure
  • primary open angle glaucoma
  • nitric oxide
  • ocular perfusion pressure
  • cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate
  • NO, nitric oxide
  • NOS, nitric oxide synthase
  • POAG, primary open angle glaucoma
  • PP, perfusion pressure

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