Glaucoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Glaucoma, including details on cataracts, surgery, treatment, blindness.

The role of mitochondrial haplogroups in primary open angle glaucoma.

Andrews R, Ressiniotis T, Turnbull DM, Birch M, Keers S, Chinnery PF, Griffiths PG

Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

AIM: To investigate a possible association between mitochondrial haplogroups and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from 140 POAG patients and 75 healthy individuals. Restriction enzyme digest analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified fragments was used to determine the mitochondrial haplogroup of each patient and control. RESULTS: The median age was 73 years for the POAG patients (range 51-87, SD 8.01) and 78 years for the controls (range 68-90, SD 4.4). Mean IOP was 20.8 mm Hg for the patients (SD 2.6) and 16.2 mm Hg for the controls (SD 3.4). Median cup/disc ratio was 0.8 and 0.3 for patients and controls respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in the haplogroup distribution between the POAG patients and the healthy individuals (Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: In this cohort, mitochondrial haplogroups do not appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of POAG.

Published 20 March 2006 in Br J Ophthalmol, 90(4): 488-90.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Glaucoma Research Today. All Rights Reserved.