Ceruloplasmin and Catalase Activites in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Objective: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an age-related systemic disorder primarily with ocular manifestations. PEX is considered as the most common identifiable cause of glaucoma (pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, PEG) and loss of vision. Oxidative stress was suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of PEX and PEG. Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme which catalyzes decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Ceruloplasmin was reported to have antioxidant functions, as well as pro-oxidant activity. This study has aimed to determine whether ceruloplasmin and catalase activities have a role in the development of PEX and/or PEG. Material and Methods: Ceruloplasmin and catalase activities were determined in serum samples of 32 cases of PEX, 30 cases of PEG and 32 control subjects using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Ceruloplasmin activities of PEX patients (32.94±16.36 U/L) and PEG patients (29.98±13.15 U/L) were similar and slightly lower than those of controls (35.22±21.32 U/L). However, the differences were not statistically significant. Catalase activites were found to be 61.96±33.95 U/L and 60.44±50.84 U/L in PEX and PEG patients, respectively. Controls had slightly, but insignificantly, higher catalase activities (64.98±58.14 U/L). Conclusion: Neither catalase nor ceruloplasmin activities are significantly related with PEX or PEG in the studied Turkish population. As the mean age of populations keeps increasing, PEX may become more common in the future. Therefore, further studies are needed to decipher the pathophysiology of this important disorder.