Plasma Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Degree of DNA Fragmentation in Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) Glaucoma

NCT00327613 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 066-WUK-2005-001
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Glaucoma is a worldwide leading cause of blindness. The key feature of this ocular neuropathy is characterized by an excavating optic nerve head. Loss of retinal ganglion cells is the final end point in blinding diseases of the optic nerve such as glaucoma. It is known that neuronal cell death in glaucoma occurs by apoptotic mechanism. In earlier studies, the investigators demonstrated that the process of apoptosis is reflected in circulating leukocytes by different parameters, like differential messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and an increased fragmentation of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Such alterations point out a relationship between cellular stress and apoptotic events. Based on the results of mRNA-expression, the investigators also expect alterations on the protein level. This study is, therefore, designed to characterize the proteome related to the proteins involved in cell death related pathways. Thus the expression pattern of several proteins in leukocytes from patients with primary open angle glaucoma will be analyzed by techniques like Western-blot and tandem mass spectrometry. These samples will be compared with healthy controls. In addition, they will be also compared with samples from patients with Parkinson's disease. Since glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease, these patients will be included as a positive control in this study.

Conditions

Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome; Glaucoma

Keywords

PEX; glaucoma; MMP; DNA degradation; POAG; Healthy subjects

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with pseudoexfoliation

You may qualify if:

• German native speakers
• Age between 18-80 years
• Pseudoexfoliation syndrome
• Pseudoexfoliation syndrome with open-angle glaucoma
• Primary open-angle glaucoma

You may not qualify if:

• Any history of ocular or systemic diseases other than glaucoma or of drug or alcohol abuse.
• Any condition potentially interfering with the visual field results. Visual fields will be obtained from the chart.
• Any mentally impaired patient.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Eye Clinic Basel

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Exfoliation Syndrome; Glaucoma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Iris Diseases; Uveal Diseases; Eye Diseases; Ocular Hypertension

Study Officials

• Selim Orgül, MD

  University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2006
• First Posted: May 18, 2006
• Study Start: June 1, 2005
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2008
• Study Completion: April 1, 2008
• Last Updated: September 26, 2008

Record last verified: 2008-09

Locations

CH (1)