Circulating Total Glutathione in Normal Tension Glaucoma Patients: Comparison with Normal Control Subjects

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Glutathione is a major antioxidant molecule present in intracellular or extracellular space. Herein, we aimed to examine circulating glutathione level in normal tension glaucoma (NTG), which comprises the largest proportion of glaucoma disease in the Korean population. METHODS: Nineteen NTG patients (NTG group) and 30 age- and gender-matched normal control subjects (control group) were included. Antecubital venous puncture was performed between 8 and 10 o'clock in the morning to obtain a 4 mL venous blood sample. Total glutathione level was measured by the spectrophotometric method at 412 nm. Correlation of total glutathione level with mean deviation and pattern standard deviation from the Humphrey visual field test was analyzed in the NTG group. RESULTS: Total glutathione level in circulating blood was 524.02 ± 231.09 nmol and 586.06 ± 156.08 nmol in the NTG group and the control group, respectively. The difference between these values was not statistically significant (p = 0.121, F = 2.212). Age had no significant effect on circulating total glutathione level in either the NTG group (p = 0.171, r = -0.328) or the control group (p = 0.380, r = -0.166). In the NTG group, circulating total glutathione level had no significant relationship with mean deviation (p = 0.226, F = 1.636) and pattern standard deviation (p = 0.200, F = 1.766) after correcting for age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: In NTG patients, circulating total glutathione levels were not different compared to those of normal subjects.