Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibodies in Aqueous Humor and Serum of Subjects With Primary Open Angle and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma in a South Indian Population

Purpose: A prospective. nonrandomized, comparative Study was carried Out to investigate levels of anti-Helicobacter pylori-specific IgG antibodies in the aqueous humor and serum of patients with primary Open angle glaucoma (POAG), exfoliation syndrome [pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma (PXFG)], and with normotensive cataract patients. who served as controls. Methods: Aqueous humor was aspirated at the beginning of glaucoma surgery from 50 eyes of 50 patients with POAG, with PXFG and at the be.-inning of phacoemulsification cataract surgery from controls. Serum samples were obtained. Anti-H. pylori IgG concentration in the aqueous humor and serum was measured by means of enzyme linked immnosorbent assay. Results: Serum analysis or anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies revealed statistically significant difference between POAG and PXFG (52.26 +/- 52.51 vs. 25.22 +/- 35.27. P = 0.01). Also, the difference between POAG and controls was statistically significant (54.05 +/- 55.04 vs. 33.83 +/- 41.73 P = 0.04). However, on comparing PXFG with the control group, the difference was statistically insignificant (P = 0.12). The mean concentration of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in aqueous humor of patients in POAG and controls were not statistically different (3.93 +/- 5.14 vs. 2.65 +/- 2.87, respectively, P = 0.73). The mean concentration of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in aqueous humor of patients in PXFG and controls were not statistically different (8.87 +/- 30.25 vs. 2.65 +/- 2.87, respectively, P = 0.83). There was also no statistical difference of IgG levels between POAG and PXFG (3.93 +/- 5.14 vs. 8.87 +/- 30.25, respectively, P = 0.87). Conclusions: The levels of anti-H. pylori IgG titers in sera of individuals with POAG were significantly higher compared with PXFG and control groups, We Support the hypothesis of the role of anti-H. pylori antibodies in causative mechanism for POAG. We Could not find a significant link between the anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies and the PXFG.