We included one eye of each individual (30 POAG patients, 30 NTG patients, and 30 controls) in the study. Table 1 summarizes the basal features of 90 patients. The gender ratio difference between the groups was not significant (p = 0.175). The average age of the individuals in POAG, NTG, and control groups was 65.83 ± 6.86, 67.83 ± 8.66, and 66.33 ± 7.50 years, respectively. The age of individuals was not significantly different among groups (p = 0.581). The mean spherical equivalents were -0.02 ± 1.65, 0.07 ± 1.51 and - 0.28 ± 1.38 in the POAG, NTG, and control groups. The difference among the groups was not significant (p = 0.653) (Table 1).
In the POAG, NTG, and control groups, the average serum levels of BDNF were 20.80 ± 7.84 ng/mL, 16.90 ± 6.09 ng/mL, and 25.17 ± 6.08 ng/mL. The mean serum BDNF levels were lower in glaucoma groups (POAG and NTG groups) than in the controls (p = 0.019 POAG group, p < 0.001 NTG group). Serum BDNF levels were lower in NTG patients than in POAG patients (p = 0.036) (Figure 1).
The average AH levels of BDNF in the POAG, NTG, and control groups were 28.13 ± 9.97 pg/mL, 29.67 ± 9.19 pg/mL, and 36.73 ± 9.41 pg/mL, respectively. The mean AH BDNF levels were lower in all glaucoma groups (POAG and NTG) than in the controls (p = 0.002 POAG group, p = 0.005 NTG group). The difference in the mean AH level of BDNF between the POAG and NTG patients was not statistically significant (p = 0.538) (Figure 2).
Figure 3 shows a simple linear regression between the serum BDNF level and MD (Figure 3A), serum BDNF level and PSD (Figure 3B), serum BDNF level and GCIPL (Figure 3C), and serum BDNF level and pRNFL (Figure 3D) in glaucoma patients.
Serum BDNF levels did not correlate with MD (A), PSD (B), GCIPL (C), and pRNFL (D) (r=0.037, p= 0.778), (r=-0.075, p=0.568), (r=0.018, p=0.890), (r=-0.028, p= 0.832).
Figure 4 shows a simple linear regression between the AH BDNF level and MD (Figure 4A), the AH BDNF level and PSD (Figure 4B), the AH BDNF level and GCIPL (Figure 4C), and the AH BDNF level and pRNFL (Figure 4D) in glaucoma patients.
The AH BDNF level was not correlated with MD (A), PSD (B), GCIPL (C), and pRNFL (D) (r = 0.160, p = 0.223), (r = -0.018, p = 0.893), (r = 0.160, p = 0.222), (r = 0.140, p = 0.287).
Table 1. Clinical characteristics of eyes with POAG group and NTG group
|
POAG
|
NTG
|
Control
|
p value
|
Patients (n)
|
30
|
30
|
30
|
|
Male / Female
|
21 / 9
|
14 / 16
|
16 / 14
|
0.175
|
Age (years)
|
65.83 ± 6.86
|
67.83 ± 8.66
|
66.33 ± 7.50
|
0.581
|
SE* (diopters)
|
-0.02 ± 1.65
|
0.07 ± 1.51
|
- 0.28 ± 1.38
|
0.653
|
Values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.
*SE : spherical equivalents