Recent studies on cataract formation focus on a primary role of systemic oxidative stress, generated outside the lens. Plasma inflammatory markers are associated with senile cataract.
Objective: The aim of this study was to find correlations between blood oxidative stress markers and some inflammatory plasma markers in cataractous patients.
Design and methods: The blood samples were collected from 38 patients (aged 50 to 80). Patients were subdivided according to two criteria. Considering age criteria, presenile and senile cataract groups were formed. According to the absence or presence of other ocular comorbidities (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma), pure cataract and nonpure cataract groups were constituted. Fifteen age and sex matched healthy subjects were selected for the control group.
Results: In our study, for all groups of patients, the measured markers of oxidative stress were modified vs. control values. Plasma antioxidant capacity, plasma antioxidant "gap", cholesterol and albumin/globulin levels were significantly decreased while RBC SOD activity, RBC catalase activity and plasma ceruloplasmin were significantly increased. Inflammatory markers, ceruloplasmin and albumin/globulins were correlated with different parameters of oxidative stress.
Conclusion: The blood redox values and the level of some inflammatory markers demonstrate that senile cataract is a systemic disease with an inflammatory component.