Comparison of prevalance of iron deficiency anemia between the normal population and glaucoma patients

AIM: In this study we aimed to compare the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia between glaucoma cases without any systemic disease and cases without any systemic disease; to evaluate if anemia affects number of glaucoma drugs and visual fields of glaucoma patients or not; and also to compare iron and ferritin, which are thought that they play role in neurodegenerative diseases, levels of glaucoma patients with healthy volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 131 glaucoma patients who were followed in the glaucoma unit and fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 130 healthy individuals with normal routine eye examination were included. Number of patient with anemia, complete blood count (Hb, Rbc, Htc, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Plt), Fe (iron), TIBC, and ferritin values of both Group 1 and Group 2 were compared. Besides; we compared the number of using antiglaucomatos agents and visual fields changes according to the presence of anemia among Group 2. Moreover, we compared CBC, Fe, TIBC, and ferritin tests according to number of using antiglaucomatos agents and duration of glaucoma separately among glaucoma cases. RESULTS: Mean age of Group 1 and Group 2 was calculated as 50.01±13.6 and 49.01±10.7; respectively. Group 1 was consisting of 63 (48.5%) female, 67 (51.5%) male and Group 2 was consisting of 74 (56.5%) female, 57 (43.5%) male. Hb (g/dl) levels of Group 1 was 13.73±1.81 and Group 2 was 13.48±1.72 (p=0.21), Rbc (106/ml) levels of Group 1 was 4.75±0.80, Group 2 was 4.68±0.79 (p=0.51), Htc (%)levels of 54 Group 1 was 40.94±5.29, Group 2 was 40.41±4.93, RDW (%) levels of Group 1 was 14.29±1.81, Group 2 was 13.81±2.28 ,Fe (μg/dl) levels of Group 1 was 74.38±36.23, Group 2 was 71.82±33.89, TDBK (μg/dl ), levels of Group 1 was 269.67±73.64, Group 2 was 273.12±66.26, ferritin (n/dl) levels of Group 1 was 70.60 (1-240), Group 2 was 70.07 (2-294), Plt (103/ml) levels of Group 1 was 241.22±80.82, Group 2 was 268.39±72.00. Plt count was significantly different between groups (p=0.04, p<0.05). When we compared the number of using antiglaucomatos agents and visual fields changes according to the presence of anemia among group 2; no statistically significant difference were found at CBC, TIBC and ferritin values. And while we compared CBC, Fe, TIBC, and ferritin tests according to duration of glaucoma among glaucoma cases; only significant difference was found on MCH levels (p=0,03, p<0,05). CONCLUSION: These results shows us that ischemic theory of etiopathogenesis of glaucoma might be related to thrombocyte count and aggregation of thrombocyte. Since glaucoma is a chronic disease, there is no change on prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in glaucoma patients with regard to normal population. Anemia does not increase the need of glaucoma patients for antiglaucomatos agent and does not affect visual field of glaucoma patients; therefore we thought that it is not necessitated to follow more often. Despite no statically significant difference, we thought that there might be increasing affinity to iron and ferritin in the glaucoma patients. When we considered on the possibility that serum iron and ferritin levels might not be correlated with brain iron and ferritin levels, we thought there are needs to detailed neuropathologic research on glaucoma patients which studying levels of iron and ferritin of brain. Keywords: Glaucoma, Anemia, Iron Deficiency, Platelet.