Sensitivity to Glucocorticoids in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

To the Editor: The article by Dr. Claman on “Corticosteroids and Lymphoid Cells” (N Engl J Med 287:388, 1972) alluded to the possibility of heterogeneity of glucocorticoid-lymphoid-cell interactions within a single species. Heterogeneity of response to glucocorticoids in man has been demonstrated in studies of the intraocular pressure response after application of dexamethasone topically to the human eye,¹ and by dose,responsecurve testing of dexamethasone-induced suppression of plasma cortisol.² In both situations it has been shown that people with primary open-angle glaucoma have an increased sensitivity to glucocorticoids. On the basis of observations that glucocorticoids inhibit the transformation of human lymphocytes.