ANÁLISE DOS POLIMORFISMOS DO GENE GSTM1 EM AMOSTRAS DE PTERÍGIO EM GOIÂNIA-GOIÁS.

Abstract

The first reports about pterygium date back to Hippocrates. This disease still hides mysteries about its pathogenesis in a way that even today it threaten vision health of many people around the world. It is a formation of fibrous tissue that grows excessively and with an abnormal shape on the cornea The anomaly consists of epithelial and subepithelial tissue and it is highly vascularized. A large number of factors are associated with the pathogenesis of pterygium such as physical factors: heat, dust and other particles in the atmosphere; and biological factors such as immunological mechanisms, mechanisms that involve the reorganization of the extracellular matrix, growth factors, cytokines, apoptosis, and angiogenic factors. The pterygium affects individuals who mainly inhabit tropical countries located near the equator and who working out in the sun; thus, the incidence is higher in the region between 40 degrees latitude north and south of the Equator. Considering the need to further investigate the association between GSTM1 polymorphisms and the formation of pterygium, this paper aims to analyze this relationship. The analysis of the null polymorphism of the GSTM1 gene for the case group found a significant difference between the GSTM1 null genotype in case and control groups. The null genotype of the GSTM1 gene is statistically significant in males, but not in female. The null genotype of the GSTM1 gene is statistically significant in Caucasians, but not in Brown or Black. The GSTM1 null genotype is not related to the risk factors analyzed: cases in family, occupational exposure, smoking, hypertension and diabetes.