Nailfold capillary morphology and platelet function in patients with exfoliative glaucoma

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nailfold capillary morphological features in patients with exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) and compare them with those pertaining to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal controls and subjects with exfoliation syndrome (XFS). The second purpose was to investigate all parameters related to platelet function on the hemogram, including the platelet count (PLT), the mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) in patients with XFG. These parameters were subsequently compared with those belonging to normal controls, POAG and XFS subjects. METHODS: This case control study involved 152 consecutive patients that were examined at the Glaucoma Department of Clinic for Eye Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, as the referral center for glaucoma in Serbia, between June 2016 and December 2017. RESULTS: Regarding capillaroscopic characteristics, statistically significant difference was found in capillary diameter and tortuosity between the XFG and POAG group (p = 0.050 and p = 0.035) and the XFG and NC group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.044), as well as in the distribution of capillary loops and avascular zones between the XFG and NC group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.004). The subjects with XFG had lower PLT values compared to POAG patients (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this study marks the first attempt to evaluate capillary morphology as well as to investigate all parameters related to platelet function on the hemogram, in patients with newly diagnosed XFG. Our findings revealed nailfold capillary morphological vascular changes in XFG patients. The subjects with XFG had lower PLT values and a higher MPV serum parameter compared to normal controls and patients with POAG. Further research in this field should therefore aim to evaluate the consequences of the aforementioned microvascular abnormalities in patients with XFG.