Glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e DNA mitocondrial: uma análise da produção científica.

Abstract

Abstract of the First Chapter Objective: The objective was to make a wide review of the literature about the genetic aspects of glaucoma, with a highlight at the works dealing with mitochondrial DNA. Methods: Bibliographical research was carried out accessing the sites Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Scirus, Scielo and Google. Books, theses and dissertations were also used at the research. Results: The works brought to evidence that there is a relation between certain polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA and a higher loss of retinal ganglion cells, which leads to the development of Glaucoma, especially Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. Conclusion: Higher incidence of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) in afro-descendants is justified by the mitochondrial haplotypes, since it was observed a higher susceptibility of POAG in individuals of the L haplogroups, who are exactly the ones of African origin. It could also justify, based on mitochondrial inheritance, the major incidence of POAG in the maternal lineages, more frequent than paternal inheritance. Abstract of the Second Chapter Objective: To quantify the volume of the scientific production about Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Mitocohndrial DNA and assess which are the main institutions of research; verify the contribution of the authors that most published about the subject; list the main journals with their Impact Factor; compare the countries and other bibliometric results. Methods: Bibliographical research about mitochondrial DNA and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma was carried out accessing the site Scopus. Then, search with the keywords mitochondrial DNA and glaucoma in all fields for publications until august of 2012 was performed. Finally, data was tabulated and the descriptive statistics was done, with the principal data, as: authors that published about mitochondrial DNA and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma; journals that had works about the subject; Research Centers and Universities that most published; countries where the researchs were performed. Results: The works brought to evidence the influences of certain polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA at the development of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. Statistics showed that theese articles have increased in the last few years, though yet confined, mostly, to some centers of research and concentrated in selected researchers in ophthalmology of developed countries. In Brazil, we do not have any article published about the issue, yet. Conclusion: 98 works were listed, until august of 2012, carried out in 30 countries, with higher concentration in the United States and England, but also with contributions of the Arabic world: Qatar and Saudi Arabia. There were more publications in the following journals: Molecular Vision, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Archives of Ophthalmology, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Experimental Eye Research, Journal of Glaucoma and Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. More studies about the subject must be encouraged, for they are extremely important to the elucidation of the genetic causes of glaucoma and for the development of new therapies aiming not only the reduction of intraocular pressure.