Relation of Advanced Glycation End Products and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Progression

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relation between oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products in patients suffering from different stages primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and complications of glaucoma progression. Forty five patients suffering from POAG classified into three stages; mild, moderate and advanced as well as fifteen healthy "non- diabetic subjects" (age and sex matched healthy controls) were selected from the outpatient clinic in the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) Giza Egypt.nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), α-tocopherol (vitamin E), catalase activity (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were estimated in all studied groups. A significant increase in MDA, NO and AGEs levels was detected in mild, moderate and advanced glaucoma compared to control, also significant decreases in vitamin C, vitamin E, GSH, and SOD activities were found in mild, moderate and advanced glaucoma compared to control. No significant change was found in catalase activity in all groups compared to control. Statistical significant positive correlations were found between intra ocular pressure (IOP) and disease severity. this study clearly demonstrated increased accumulation of AGEs, lipid peroxidation products along with impairment of the antioxidant status in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.We suggest that AGEs measurement could be used as a diagnostic marker in primary screening programs for diagnosis and prediction of the development and progression of glaucoma