Safety Concerns of Glaucoma Chemotherapy among G6PD Deficient Glaucoma Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the potential acute adverse effects associated with the use of anti-glaucoma medications among glaucoma patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency. Materials and Methods: A prospective case-control study was piloted in the ocular and haematological assessment of newly diagnosed glaucoma patients. G6PD enzymopathy screening, haematological and ocular assessments were done prior to the dispensary of anti- glaucoma medications. Ocular assessments included Slit lamp bio microscopy of conjunctiva coloration and crystalline lens transparency and funduscopic evaluation of the retinal background for hemorrhages, exudates, degenerations and vascular changes. Haematological assessment included assessment of the red blood cell counts, hematocrit, and haemoglobin and serum bilirubin levels. These ocular and haematological assessments were repeated in two consecutive reviews at monthly intervals a month after the start of the initial therapy to identify any ocular and haematological changes among cases and controls. Results: There were 116 glaucoma patients with mean age of 61.28 ± 16.62 years. A G6PD enzymopathy prevalence of 15.56% was recorded with 16 participants being cases (full G6PD defect) and 98 as controls (no G6PD defect). Also, 72.22% were males with the remaining 27.78% being females (χ2 = 7.484, p = 0.024). Mixed repeated measures ANOVA analysis did not indicate significant acute changes in the ocular parameters and haematological profiles in the pretreatment and follow up findings among the cases and controls for each anti-glaucoma medication assessed and all the anti-glaucoma medications in general. Conclusion: There was no acute ocular and haematological adverse effects associated with the use of anti-glaucoma medications among G6PD deficient glaucoma patients.