Purpose: To evaluate the aqueous levels of transforming growth factor beta-2 (TGF-beta2) in open angle glaucoma patients.
Methods: The aqueous levels of active TGF-beta2 were detected in 17 eyes of 17 patients using ELISA method. The control group consisted of 6 cataract extracted patients.
Results: Mean age of the patients (60.8 +/- 8.8 years) was similar to that of the controls (57.5 +/- 9.8 years) (p = 0.516). Levels of TGF-beta2 in aqueous samples of glaucoma patients (2.74+/- 1.23 ng/ml) were found to be elevated when compared to those of controls (1.67 +/- 0.32 ng/ml) (p = 0.020).
Conclusion: We might suggest that the elevated levels of TGF-beta2 in the aqueous of glaucoma patients could play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.