Aqueous Humor And Serum Erythropoietin Levels In Patients With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Objective To evaluate the levels of erythropoietin (EPO) in the aqueous humor and serum in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG) and smiple cataract.Methods Levels of EPO were measured using double antibody sandwich engyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in aqueous humor and serum from 78 patients, of whom 40 had POAG and 38 had smiple cataract only. The aqueous humor EPO concentration and serum EPO concentrations of two groups were analyzed statistically. The linear correlation between aqueous humor EPO concentration and serum EPO concentration were also analyzed statistically.Results The mean aqueous humor EPO concentration in eyes with POAG (10.92±2.02 mU/mL) was significantly higher than that from eyes with smiple cataract (8.66±2.30mU/mL, t=2.918, P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the serum EPO concentration of POAG (26.64±5.26mU/mL)and the control group(24.82±5.60mU/mL, t=0.770,P>0.05). There was no correlation between the aqueous humor EPO concentration and the serum EPO concentration in POAG(r=0.323, P>0.05) while there was no correlation between the aqueous humor EPO concentration and the serum EPO concentration in the control group(r=0.048, P>0.05).Conclusion 1. The aqueous humor EPO level is increased in eyes with POAG.2.There was no correlation between the aqueous humor EPO concentration and the serum EPO concentration.3.The higher EPO concentration of aqueous humor in glaucoma patients may indicate a response to injury after glaucoma.