Early biochemical and microvascular alterations in asymmetric nonglaucomatous pseudoexfoliation syndrome: a multimodal aqueous humor, serum, OCTA, and CVI analysis.
GRAEFE'S ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, cilt.0, ss.1-10, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 0
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00417-026-07525-5
- Dergi Adı: GRAEFE'S ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Scopus, Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-10
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose
To evaluate serum and aqueous humor levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and fatty acid-binding protein-4 (FABP-4) in asymmetric nonglaucomatous pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX).
Methods
This cross-sectional comparative study included 153 eyes of 102 participants. Fifty-one asymmetric PEX patients contributed both PEX-positive (PEX+) and fellow PEX-negative (PEX−) eyes, while 51 eyes of age-matched cataract patients without PEX served as controls. Serum and aqueous humor samples were collected immediately before cataract surgery and analyzed for HIF-1α, GDF-15, and FABP-4 levels. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-derived peripapillary vascular parameters (whole radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [WRPC], inside disc radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [IDRPC], peripapillary radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [PPRPC]), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) measurements were evaluated.
Results
Serum HIF-1α, GDF-15, and FABP-4 levels were significantly higher in PEX patients compared with controls (all p<0.05). Aqueous HIF-1α levels were significantly elevated in both groups. PEX+ eyes demonstrated significantly higher aqueous FABP-4 levels compared with both controls and fellow PEX− eyes. OCTA analysis revealed significantly reduced WRPC, IDRPC, PPRPC, CVI, and pRNFL values in PEX+ eyes. Fellow PEX− eyes also exhibited significant microvascular and choroidal alterations compared with control cataract patients.
Conclusion
Among the evaluated biomarkers, aqueous FABP-4 may be more closely associated with clinically affected eyes and microvascular impairment.
Purpose
To evaluate serum and aqueous humor levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and fatty acid-binding protein-4 (FABP-4) in asymmetric nonglaucomatous pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX).
Methods
This cross-sectional comparative study included 153 eyes of 102 participants. Fifty-one asymmetric PEX patients contributed both PEX-positive (PEX+) and fellow PEX-negative (PEX−) eyes, while 51 eyes of age-matched cataract patients without PEX served as controls. Serum and aqueous humor samples were collected immediately before cataract surgery and analyzed for HIF-1α, GDF-15, and FABP-4 levels. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-derived peripapillary vascular parameters (whole radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [WRPC], inside disc radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [IDRPC], peripapillary radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density [PPRPC]), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) measurements were evaluated.
Results
Serum HIF-1α, GDF-15, and FABP-4 levels were significantly higher in PEX patients compared with controls (all p<0.05). Aqueous HIF-1α levels were significantly elevated in both groups. PEX+ eyes demonstrated significantly higher aqueous FABP-4 levels compared with both controls and fellow PEX− eyes. OCTA analysis revealed significantly reduced WRPC, IDRPC, PPRPC, CVI, and pRNFL values in PEX+ eyes. Fellow PEX− eyes also exhibited significant microvascular and choroidal alterations compared with control cataract patients.
Conclusion
Among the evaluated biomarkers, aqueous FABP-4 may be more closely associated with clinically affected eyes and microvascular impairment.