Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk for open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of exposure to Helicobacter pylori infection in glaucoma patients.

DESIGN

Prospective case-control study.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-seven consecutive patients attending a glaucoma clinic. These included 38 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 19 with normal pressure glaucoma (NPG), 16 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXE), and 24 with ocular hypertension (OHT). Ninety-four age-matched participants without glaucoma served as a control population.

METHODS

Serum was analyzed for the presence of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serologic analysis for H. pylori.

RESULTS

Seropositivity for H. pylori was higher in patients with glaucoma (26.0%) than in controls (20.2%), but this did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.46). A total of 26.3% of POAG patients, 26.3% of NPG patients, 25.0% of PXE patients, and 25.0% of OHT patients were seropositive.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that exposure to H. pylori infection is not associated with open-angle glaucoma.