Objectives: The association between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and
cardiovascular disease has recently stimulated interest in the role of homocysteine in
the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In the present study, we aimed to measure plasma
homocysteine and its relation to C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
polymorphism in patients with POAG. Subjects and Methods: Fasting venous blood
samples from one hundred patients with POAG and 50 age and sex matched healthy
control subjects were analyzed for plasma homocysteine by high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) and genotype for C677T polymorphism by polymerase
chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in POAG patients and controls for the
age and sex (P>0.05). Mean plasma homocysteine was significantly higher in POAG
patients (12.37±3.05μmol/l.) compared with controls (10.40 ±1.74 μmol/l.) (P<
0.001). C677T polymorphism did not show significant differences between the POAG
patients and control subjects (CC: 46%, CT: 41%, TT: 13%) for patients with POAG;
CC: 60%, CT: 32:%, TT: 8% for controls) (P>0.05). Frequency of T allele was
33.5% and 24% for patients with POAG and controls, respectively. Conclusion: In
Egyptian patients plasma homocysteine was elevated in POAG patients but no
association was found between C677T polymorphism and POAG patients. If
homocysteine measurement proves useful for risk stratification, therapies that lower it
may aid the management of POAG.