Serum heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed exfoliative glaucoma.

Background: Exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) is typically classified as a high-pressure type of secondary open-angle glaucoma that develops as a consequence of exfoliation syndrome (XFS). Exfoliation syndrome is an age-related, generalized disorder of the extracellular matrix characterized by production and progressive accumulation of a fibrillar exfoliation material (XFM) in intra- and extraocular tissues. Exfoliation material represents complex glycoprotein/proteoglycan structure composed of a protein core surrounded by glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS).

The clinical features in patients with newly diagnosed pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in Serbia.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and compare them with those pertaining to newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma as well as pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Methods: This case-control study involved 306 participants, including patients with newly diagnosed pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, age- and sex-matched normal controls, patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma, and subjects with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The study was conducted at the Glaucoma Department of Clinic for Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, as the referral center for glaucoma in Serbia.