Systemic high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To determine the systemic high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and Methods: With the exclusion of patients with cardiovascular and other systemic diseases, 40 patients with NTG, 40 with POAG, and 40 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent blood sampling for hsCRP, biochemistry, and lipid profile analysis. Results: Each group had similar demographic parameters including the age, sex, body mass index, heart rate, and blood pressure. There was no statistically significant difference in the hsCRP and biochemistry results between the 3 groups. The lipid profile exhibited a mild elevation in the patients with POAG. Conclusions: Our data revealed no difference in the hsCRP level between NTG, POAG, and normal controls after exclusion of patients with cardiovascular and other systemic diseases. Systemic vascular inflammation may not be a major cause in the pathogenesis of glaucoma in those without histories of cardiovascular diseases.