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Increased plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with progressive open angle glaucoma

¹ University Eye Clinic, Basel, Switzerland
² Department of Clinical Research, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor S Orgül
University Eye Clinic Basel, Mittlere Strasse 91, PO Box, 4012 Basel, Switzerland; sorgul{at}magnet.ch

Aim: To compare the plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) between patients with primary open angle glaucoma with visual field progression despite normal or normalised intraocular pressure and patients with stabile visual fields in a retrospective study.

Methods: The progressive group consisted of 16 primary open angle glaucoma patients and the group with stable visual field consisted of 15 patients. After a 30 minute rest in a supine position, venous blood was obtained for ET-1 dosing. Difference in the plasma level of ET-1 between two groups was compared by means of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), including age, sex, and mean arterial blood pressure as covariates.

Results: ET-1 plasma levels were found to be significantly increased in patients with deteriorating (3.47 (SD 0.75) pg/ml) glaucoma when compared to those with stable (2.59 (SD 0.54) pg/ml) visual fields (p = 0.0007).

Conclusions: Glaucoma patients with visual field progression in spite of normal or normalised intraocular pressure have been found to have increased plasma endothelin-1 levels. It remains to be determined if this is a secondary phenomenon or whether it may have a role in the progression of glaucomatous damage.

Abbreviations: ET-1, endothelin-1; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; IOP, intraocular pressure; MBP, mean blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure

Keywords: endothelin-1; glaucoma; progressive damage; visual field

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