Study of the relationship between serum lipid levels and primary open-angle glaucoma

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the association between serum lipid levels and primary open?angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: In this case?control study, 50 patients with POAG documented by clinical tests using standard ophthalmologic equipment and 50 age?matched controls were investigated. Twelve?hour fasting serum lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, low?density lipoproteins (LDLs), and high?density lipoproteins (HDLs), were compared between the cases and controls. Results: The mean age of cases and controls was 62.84 ± 9.68 and 60.12 ± 8.65, respectively (P = 0.65). High total cholesterol levels (>200 mg/dl) were found in 23 cases (46%) and 8 controls (16%); high serum triglyceride levels (>150 mg/dl) were found in 24 cases (48%) and 7 controls (14%); high LDL levels (130 mg/dl) were found in 28 cases (56%) and 9 controls (18%); and low HDL levels (<40 mg/dl) were found in 38 cases (76%) and 30 controls (60%). The mean total cholesterol levels were 205.24 ± 36.90 mg/dl in cases and 177.68 ± 22.56 mg/dl in controls (P < 0.001); the mean serum triglyceride levels were 150.42 ± 49.55 mg/dl and 130.84 ± 23.16 mg/dl, respectively (P = 0.013); and the mean LDL levels were 139.50 ± 31.03 mg/dl and 114.96 ± 17.73 mg/dl, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels were significantly higher in cases than in controls (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study shows that higher proportion of POAG patients have dyslipidemia compared to age?matched controls. Though these findings need to be replicated by others. This study opens new vistas for further studies, such as lowering dyslipidemia, lowering the intra?ocular pressure and incidence of POAG, and whether the use of statins to reduce dyslipidemia affects the progression of POAG.