Jornal de Oftalmologia Clínica e Experimental
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-a and Interleukin-6 Levels in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Asaad A Ghanem, Lamiaa F Arafa and Ahmed M Elewa

Purpose: To investigate the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the aqueous humor and plasma of human eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, (POAG) and to correlate their concentrations with the severity of glaucoma.
 
Patients and methods: Thirty five patients with POAG and thirty patients with senile cataract (control group) of matched age and gender were included in the study prospectively. Aqueous humor samples were obtained by paracentesis from glaucoma and cataract patients who were undergoing elective surgery. Aqueous humor and corresponding plasma samples were analysed for TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
 
Results: TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in aqueous humor of POAG patients with respect to the comparative group of cataract patients (P<0.001). No significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma of POAG and cataract patients. A positive correlation was found between TNF-α and IL-6 in aqueous humor of POAG patients (P<0.001). Significant correlation was found between TNF-α or IL-6 levels and severity of visual field loss in moderate stage (P<0.001).
 
Conclusion: Increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 aqueous humor may be associated with POAG. In addition, TNF-α and IL-6 may be useful proinflammatory cytokines levels in aqueous humor of POAG patients. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in aqueous humor are significant with visual field loss in patients with POAG.