Jebmh.com Original Research Article J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc., pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 4/Issue 82/Oct. 12, 2017 Page 4830 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OXIDATIVE STRESS AND PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA Afreen Hasan 1 , Pragati Garg 2 , Anu Chandra 3 , Mohit Gupta 4 1 Senior Resident, Department of Biochemistry, Era Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. 2 Professor and HOD, Department of Ophthalmology, Era Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. 3 Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Era Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. 4 Junior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Era Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive chronic optic neuropathy, which is not alone related to intraocular pressure. Oxidative stress in conjunction with vascular abnormalities, glial activity, immune system and inflammatory stimulus are presumed to be involved in glaucoma-induced injury. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in POAG. MATERIALS AND METHODS It is an observational study conducted on 60 individuals of more than 40 years of age of either sex after ethical clearance and informed consent. 30 patients were confirmed POAG and 30 were age-matched controls of either sex. Patients having angle closure glaucoma, secondary glaucoma or congenital glaucoma, evidence of hepatic and renal diseases, laser and ocular surgeries, any degenerative disorder, age-related macular degenerations or ocular disease, which may increase Intraocular Pressure (IOP) were excluded. 5 mL blood of all patients was taken under aseptic condition in EDTA tube and sample was transferred to biochemistry lab. Parameters assessed were Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substance (TBARS), global antioxidant activity by FRAP method, antioxidant enzymes- superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), ancillary antioxidant enzyme Glutathione Reductase (GR) and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) in hemolysate. RESULTS No significant difference was seen between case and controls with regard to SOD, GSH or CAT levels, but GPx activity was raised in POAG in case as compared to controls. Also, very low Total Antioxidant Activity (TAA) in both case and control are noticed. CONCLUSION The study indicates that oxidative stress was not a risk factor in patient at the point of stage at which they were examined. Thus, it is required that further longitudinal study should be undertaken to examine oxidative stress. KEYWORDS Oxidative Stress, Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Hasan A, Garg P, Chandra A, et al. Relationship between oxidative stress and primary open- angle glaucoma. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2017; 4(82), 4830-4834. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2017/963 BACKGROUND POAG is defined as a chronic progressive optic neuropathy in adults where Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and other currently unknown factors contribute to damage and in which in absence of other identifiable causes, there is characteristic acquired atrophy of optic nerve and loss of retinal ganglion cell and their axons. The prevalence of POAG varies in different population. In general, it affects about 1 in 200 of population (of either sex) above the age of 40 years. Prevalence of POAG is 3-4 times higher in blacks than in Caucasians. 1 The exact sequence in which the disease starts is not known, but it is a fact that glaucoma is not a condition relating to IOP alone. Oxidative stress in conjunction with vascular abnormalities, glial activity, immune system and inflammatory stimulus are all presumed to be involved in glaucoma-induced injury. Therefore, the “trait de union” of all these components is called the oxidative stress. 2 Oxidative DNA damage is an inevitable consequence of cellular metabolism and it is secondary to free radical formation. 3 The major types of free radicals and their non- radical reactive species are Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS). ROS and RNS are reported to be culprits (risk factors) in POAG. To cope with the ROS, human cells express an array of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn2+ dependent Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), copper/zinc SODs, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and Catalases (CAT). Many of the ROS Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 20-09-2017, Peer Review 26-09-2017, Acceptance 08-10-2017, Published 10-10-2017. Corresponding Author: Dr. Pragati Garg, Professor and HOD, Department of Ophthalmology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Sarfaraz Gani, Lucknow. E-mail: drpragati89@gmail.com DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2017/963