Abstract

To determine the Zn, Cd and Cu concentrations in aqueous humor of patients with PEX syndrome and to evaluate the overall oxidative status of the aqueous in this group by measuring the reduction-oxidation (redox) potential in the aqueous samples. Material and methods: Samples from aqueous humor were collected during cataract extraction from 14 patients with PEX syndrome (7 male/7 female) and 21 patients without PEX (9 male/12 female). All samples were stored in -24C until analyzed. The levels of selected trace elements in both groups were assayed for the first time in the field of Ophthalmology, with anodic stripping voltammetry, using the square wave differential pulse technique. In this analytical procedure a glassy carbon mercury film electrode, a platinum indicator and a reference Ag/AgCl electrode were used. Finally the metal levels in all samples were compared between the two groups using the Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05). Similarly, samples were collected during cataract extraction from 13 patients (7 male/6 female) with PEX syndrome and 22 normal patients (7 male/15 female). A platinum electrode together with a reference electrode Ag/AgCl/KCl was used for the first time in Ophthalmology, for the measurement of the apparent redox potential in the aqueous humor. The independent samples t-test was used to compare aqueous redox potential between the study and control group. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Cu was found significantly lower in the PEX than in the control group (p<0.05), whereas Zn and Cd had no statistical differences between the two groups. The redox potential was found significantly higher in patients with PEX syndrome than in normal patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: In the present study we represent the first successful application of ASV in eye research for the determination of aqueous Zn, Cd and Cu concentrations and the meauserment of aqueous redox potential. The significantly lower Cu concentrations and the higher redox potential in aqeous humor of PEX syndrome support the role of increased oxidative stress in the development of PEX.

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