A meta-analysis of the association between high-sensitivity c-reactive protein level and glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the US for people over the age of 40; the most common form is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). It has been suggested that inflammatory markers have a role in the development and the progression of glaucoma (GL). High-sensitivity C reactive protein (HsCRP) is an inflammatory marker that has been linked to cardiovascular disease and a possible link to GL. Although a number of studies have found a link between CRP and GL; POAG, normal tension glaucoma (NTG), exfoliation glaucoma (XFG), Exfoliation syndrome (XFS), other research has shown the opposite.

PURPOSE: This systematic review is to determine the association between HsCRP and GL.

METHODOLOGY: A literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE database. We identified thirty-six peer-reviewed studies.

RESULTS

Five retrospective studies were included and summed up to 164305 study participants, 161759 POAG patients, and 2546 controls. The pooled result of all studies revealed that HsCRP (SMD: 0.44 mg/dl; [95% confidence interval -0.10 to 0.99]; P = 0.11, I2 89%) concentration was not significantly higher in POAG patients compared to the healthy controls. The SMD for NTG, XFG and XFS; 0.64 mg/dl; 0.03 mg/dl, 0.03 mg/dl respectively. The pooled result revealed that HsCRP concentration was not significantly higher in POAG, NTG, XFG, and XFS. No publication bias was found using the funnel plot.

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis concluded that there is no correlation between the elevated plasma levels of HsCRP and GL. Future studies should be conducted.