ABSTRACTPurpose: To determine the serum thiol disulfide homeostasis in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome.Method: Thirty-five patients with PEX syndrome and forty healthy subjects were included in this observational case-control study. Serum native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, and native thiol/disulfide ratio were determined using a novel and automated assay.Results: The mean serum total thiol and native thiol levels were significantly lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001). The mean serum disulfide level was significantly higher in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls (p = 0.023). The serum native thiol/disulfide ratio was lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy subjects (16 ± 10.1 vs 22.3 ± 11.5, respectively, p = 0.014).Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that the dynamic native thiol/disulfide ratio is lower in PEX syndrome, which shows a reduction in the natural cell reductive capacity reservoir.
Read full abstract