Pseudoexfoliation and Carpal Tunnel Study

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a systemic disorder characterized by the accumulation of extracellular fibrillar material in ocular and extraocular tissues. It has been associated with extracellular matrix dysregulation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction, and may involve systemic manifestations beyond the eye. Previous studies have suggested links between PES and several systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative processes.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the most common entrapment neuropathy, results from compression of the median nerve at the wrist and is influenced by both local mechanical factors and systemic conditions such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms, including dyslipidemia and oxidative stress, may contribute to peripheral nerve dysfunction.

Although both PES and CTS have been associated with systemic and metabolic disturbances, the extent to which they share common pathophysiological mechanisms remains unclear. In particular, alterations in homocysteine metabolism, oxidative stress pathways, and extracellular matrix remodeling may represent overlapping biological processes.

This prospective, case-control study was designed to evaluate the association between PES and CTS by comparing three groups: patients with PES, patients with CTS, and control subjects. Serum biomarkers related to homocysteine metabolism (homocysteine, methylmalonic acid), enzymatic activity (paraoxonase-1 and homocysteine thiolactonase), and extracellular matrix turnover (MMP-2 and MMP-9) were analyzed. The study also aimed to assess the coexistence of PES and CTS and to explore potential shared systemic mechanisms underlying both conditions.

Inclusion criteria

• Being between the ages of 50-80
• Having been diagnosed with PES during routine eye examination

Exclusion criteria

• History of major hand-wrist trauma or surgical intervention
• Acromegaly
• Presence of any structural abnormality in bone structure
• Pregnancy
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Connective tissue disease
• Acromegaly
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Brachial plexopathy
• Cervical disc herniation
• Presence of cardiac pacemaker
• Steroid users
• Repetitive hand operations