Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Patients With Normal Tension Glaucoma

PURPOSE To investigate whether there is an association of elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). PATIENTS AND METHODS Plasma levels of Hcy (fluorescence polarization immunoassay), vitamin B6 (high-performance liquid chromatography), vitamin B12, and folate levels (immunoassay) were determined in 42 patients with NTG and in 42 age-matched and sex-matched controls. RESULTS No significant difference regarding Hcy (NTG: 10.95 μmol/L±2.65; controls: 11.29 μmol/L±2.76) (P=0.639), vitamin B6 (NTG: 14.45 ng/mL±12.89; controls: 13.57 ng/mL±10.41) (P=0.629), vitamin B12 (NTG: 387.73 pg/mL±282.04; controls: 423.27 pg/mL±188.85) (P=0.052) and folate (NTG: 9.45ng/mL±3.42; controls: 10.82 ng/mL±4.48) (P=0.181) levels were found between both groups. CONCLUSIONS An association of elevated Hcy levels and NTG was not found and therefore a role of Hcy as a modifiable risk factor in the pathogenesis of NTG seems unlikely.