Serum free fatty acids levels not associated with normal tension glaucoma

Original Research

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Authors: Kenya Yuki, Itaru Kimura, Kazuo Tsubota

Published Date February 2010 Volume 2010:4 Pages 91 - 94

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S9418

Kenya Yuki, Itaru Kimura, Kazuo Tsubota

Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Purpose: To determine the free fatty acid levels in the sera of patients with normal-tension glaucoma and compare it with that of normal controls.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients with newly diagnosed normal-tension glaucoma and forty-four age and gender matched controls were evaluated. The type and level of fatty acids in the sera were measured by gas chromatography (Model GC17A; Shimazu, Kyoto, Japan). Twenty-four fatty acids were identified from 12:0 to 24:1. The values were compared between the normal-tension glaucoma and control groups by Mann–Whitney U tests.

Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the levels of any free fatty acids between the normal-tension glaucoma group and control group.

Conclusion: No significant association was found in the serum free fatty acids levels including docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid between normal-tension glaucoma patients and controls.

Keywords: free fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, normal tension glaucoma