Polygenic risk associated with rate of glaucoma progression
High polygenic risk score in individuals with early or suspected glaucoma was associated with a faster rate of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and visual field worsening, a study found.
“This raises the possibility that when combined with other clinical risk factors, a glaucoma PRS may be a valuable adjunct in determining treatment thresholds and intensity and the onset and frequency of glaucoma surveillance,” the authors wrote.
The study included 1,103 genotyped participants from the Progression Risk of Glaucoma: Relevant SNPs With Significant Association study.
Those in the top 5% polygenic risk score (PRS) group were found to have a faster rate of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and visual field worsening as compared with the remaining 95%, despite higher treatment intensity with drops, selective laser trabeculoplasty and/or trabeculectomy. Conversely, the bottom 20% PRS group had slower peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and visual field worsening as compared with the intermediate 75% group.
“Both structural and functional glaucoma progression outcomes were influenced by glaucoma genetic risk,” the authors said.
Taking into account that in the top 5% group disease progression was slowed down by high-intensity treatment, the true association of PRS with glaucoma worsening could be even greater, they said.
These findings led to the conclusion that PRS may be a valuable adjunctive measure to identify patients with early or suspected glaucoma who need more frequent monitoring and may benefit from earlier or more intensive treatment, they said.
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