Evaluation of Plasma Spermine and Spermidine Levels in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Exfoliation Glaucoma
4 affiliations
- 1İstinye University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
- 2Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara, Türkiye
- 3Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ankara, Türkiye
- 4University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to compare plasma spermine and spermidine concentrations in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), patients with exfoliation glaucoma (EG), and healthy individuals, and to explore their potential association with disease severity.
Materials and Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary referral center and included patients with an established diagnosis of POAG or EG for more than two years. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Participants with predefined systemic comorbidities or ocular conditions that could potentially confound the study findings were excluded. Plasma concentrations of spermine and spermidine were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glaucoma severity was assessed using the modified Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson glaucoma staging system.
Results: Significant differences in spermine and spermidine concentrations were observed among the three study groups (p=0.005 and p=0.037, respectively). Post-hoc analyses showed that spermine levels were significantly elevated in both the POAG and EG groups relative to controls, whereas spermidine levels were significantly increased only in the POAG group. In the EG group, spermidine levels showed a weak inverse correlation with glaucoma severity (Kendall’s tau-b=-0.317, p=0.037).
Conclusion: The observed alterations in plasma spermine and spermidine concentrations suggest a potential association between systemic polyamine metabolism and glaucoma. Given the proposed roles of polyamines in neurodegenerative processes, further studies are warranted to clarify the biological significance of these findings in glaucoma.
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BibTeX
@article{aygun2026evaluation,
title = {{Evaluation of Plasma Spermine and Spermidine Levels in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Exfoliation Glaucoma}},
author = {Orhan Aygün and Özlem Dikmetaş and Ahmet Yalçınkaya and Aysun Yücel Gençoğlu and Sibel Kocabeyoğlu and Hatice Asuman Özkara and Murat İrkeç},
journal = {Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.4274/tjo.galenos.2026.43884},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4274/tjo.galenos.2026.43884},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluation of Plasma Spermine and Spermidine Levels in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Exfoliation Glaucoma
AU - Orhan Aygün
AU - Özlem Dikmetaş
AU - Ahmet Yalçınkaya
AU - Aysun Yücel Gençoğlu
AU - Sibel Kocabeyoğlu
AU - Hatice Asuman Özkara
AU - Murat İrkeç
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology
DO - 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2026.43884
UR - https://doi.org/10.4274/tjo.galenos.2026.43884
AB - Objectives: This study aimed to compare plasma spermine and spermidine concentrations in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), patients with exfoliation glaucoma (EG), and healthy individuals, and to explore their potential association with disease severity. Materials and Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary referral center and included patients with an established diagnosis of POAG or EG for more than two years. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Participants with predefined systemic comorbidities or ocular conditions that could potentially confound the study findings were excluded. Plasma concentrations of spermine and spermidine were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glaucoma severity was assessed using the modified Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson glaucoma staging system. Results: Significant differences in spermine and spermidine concentrations were observed among the three study groups (p=0.005 and p=0.037, respectively). Post-hoc analyses showed that spermine levels were significantly elevated in both the POAG and EG groups relative to controls, whereas spermidine levels were significantly increased only in the POAG group. In the EG group, spermidine levels showed a weak inverse correlation with glaucoma severity (Kendall’s tau-b=-0.317, p=0.037). Conclusion: The observed alterations in plasma spermine and spermidine concentrations suggest a potential association between systemic polyamine metabolism and glaucoma. Given the proposed roles of polyamines in neurodegenerative processes, further studies are warranted to clarify the biological significance of these findings in glaucoma.
SN - 2149-8695
SN - 2149-8709
SN - 1300-0659
SN - 2147-2661
ER -