AIM: To investigate the changes of vascular endothelial function and hemorheological indexes in patients with primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)and to analyze the risk factors of POAG.

METHODS: A total of 86 cases of POAG patients were selected as the research object(observation group), and they were divided into mild group(n=27), moderate group(n=29)and severe group(n=30)according to the visual field defect, another 30 cases normal healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. The levels of vascular endothelial function and blood hemorheology between the groups were compared, and to analysis the risk factors of the disease.

RESULTS: The results of single factor analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the sex ratio, average age, history of alcoholism and cardiovascular disease between the control group and the observation group(P>0.05); the smoking history, hypertension history, diabetes history, and family history were statistically significant(P<0.05). The level of NO in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the level of the severe group was significantly lower than that in the moderate group, which was significantly lower than that of the mild group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of endothelin-1(ET-1), plasma viscosity(PV), hematocrit(HCT)and fibrinogen(FIB)in the observation group were significantly increased, and the ET-1 and HCT levels in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the moderate group, which were significantly higher than those in the mild group(P<0.05); and the levels of PV and FIB in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the mild group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking history, hypertension history, diabetes history, family history, ET-1, PV, HCT and FIB were risk factors for primary glaucoma, and NO was a protective factor(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: There are endothelial dysfunction and hemorrheology abnormality in patients with POAG. Smoking history, hypertension history, diabetes history, family history are related to the occurrence of POAG.