AIM: To test concentrations of IL-37 and IL-6 in aqueous humor samples of patients with primary open angle glaucoma(POAG), and analyze the potential relationship to intraocular pressure(IOP)and mean defect of visual field.

METHODS: Prospective consecutive non-randomized comparative cohort study was conducted. Totally 25 POAG patients and 25 age related cataract(ARC)patients in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital from June, 2019 to January, 2020 were collected. The levels of IL-37 and IL-6 in the aqueous humor were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The IOP and mean defect of visual field of patients in the POAG group were also measured.

RESULTS: The IL-37 concentrations in aqueous humor of POAG group and control group were 25.80±2.87pg/mL and 23.75±3.88pg/mL respectively(P<0.05). The IL-6 concentrations in aqueous humor of POAG group and control group were 43.87±7.75pg/mL and 36.53±7.60pg/mL respectively(P<0.05). In POAG group, the concentration of IL-37 was significantly positively correlated with mean defect of visual field(r=0.4520, P<0.05), the concentration of IL-6 was significantly positively correlated with IOP(r=0.5817, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Significant differences in aqueous humor levels of IL-37 and IL-6 between glaucoma and control patients support the hypothesis that immune inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of POAG.