Unexpected findings: loss of corneal endothelial cells in Uygur patients with exfoliation syndrome

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate anterior segment parameters in patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG).

METHODS

The study adopted a retrospective case series design, involving a total of 56 patients (112 eyes) with unrelated XFS/XFG (XFS: 26 patients/60 eyes; XFG: 30 patients/44 eyes) and 100 age-related cataract cases as the control group (200 eyes). The participants were evaluated at the ophthalmology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Clinical data, including eye axial length, anterior chamber depth, white-to-white distance, central corneal thickness, and corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), were collected for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

ECD exhibited a significant difference between the XFS/XFG and age-related cataract groups (P < 0.001), while the remaining indexes did not show statistical differences (P > 0.05). Ocular parameters in patients with XFS and XFG were distinct from those in age-related cataract cases, with consistent results. Notably, there were no statistically significant differences between XFS and XFG patients.

CONCLUSIONS

ECD is reduced in XFS/XFG patients compared with age-related cataract subjects. It is crucial to remain vigilant to enhance surgical safety in XFS/XFG patients and prevent complications proactively.

Proinflammatory Cytokines Induce XFG Development

PURPOSE

To reveal the roles of proinflammatory cytokines within the process of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) production.

METHODS

Our study included 120 patients referred to cataract surgery (early and late stage of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG), and control group). Serum and humor levels of cytokines were measured in a sample with high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that TNF-α and IL-17, overlooked by IL-6 action in the early stage and in the phase of glaucoma, played the main role in the inflammation activation in the tissue in the early and late stage of XFS and in XFG.

CONCLUSIONS

Local conditions cause chronic inflammation in the eye, subsequently activating fibrotic process with fibrotic tissue deposits in the eye.