Serum prolidase activity and oxidative stress in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the serum prolidase activity (SPA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and catalase levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with PEX syndrome and thirty-eight age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were included in this prospective clinical study. Each participant underwent full ophthalmologic examination. The SPA, serum MDA, and catalase levels were measured and compared between the patients with PEX syndrome and healthy subjects.

Results: The SPA was significantly lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls (14.1 ± 7.1 vs. 30.1 ± 4.3 ng/ml; p = 0.001). The mean serum MDA values the of PEX syndrome and control groups were comparable (28.7 ± 5.7 vs. 30.4 ± 5.3 nmol/ml, respectively; p = 0.185). The mean serum catalase level tended to be lower in the PEX group compared to healthy controls (0.12 ± 0.02 vs. 0.21 ± 0.05 k/ml, respectively; p = 0.077).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the SPA was significantly lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls. Thus, prolidase may have a role in the pathogenesis of the PEX syndrome.