Hormonal changes in male patients with primary open angle glaucoma

INTRODUCTION: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma, pathogenesis of which is not completely known. Several clinical studies show that glucocorticoid hormones may be implicated in the pathogenesis of POAG and ocular hypertension. Glucocorticoid receptors have been identified in human outflow tissue of the eye. AIMS: The purpose of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the serum concentration of total cortisol (TF), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), FSH (follitropin), LH (lutropin), ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), DHEA-SO4 (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) as well as free cortisol (UFF) and 17-OHCS in 24 hours urinary samples in patients treated because of POAG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Studies were performed in the group of 30 male patients, aged 55 +/- 13 years, treated because of glaucoma for more than two years. Serum and urinary concentration of hormones were studied using RIA methods (DPC). RESULTS: The serum concentration of TF (652.03 +/- 315.43 nmol/l), UFF (248.75 +/- 99.39 nmol/l) and 17-OHCS (5.47 +/- 2.64 mg/24 h) in urine was increased compared with control group. There was not significant difference in concentration of pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in glaucomatous and control groups of patients. CONCLUSION: The results could point to the fact that changes in the endocrine system are one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of POAG. We conclude that an elevated level of cortisol, free cortisol and its metabolites is closely related to the POAG.