AIM: To explore the relationship between bilateral primary pterygium and hyperlipidemia.

METHODS: The retrospective study included 40 patients with bilateral primary bilateral pterygium(pterygium group)and 40 healthy subjects(control group). Pterygium was graded clinically by slit lamp examination as Grade 1(Group 1), Grade 2(Group 2)and Grade 3(Group 3). For each subject,fasting sample of venous blood was collected to determine the serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1(APOA1)and apolipoprotein B(APOB). The blood lipid levels of each group were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: TC, LDL-C and APOB levels were significantly higher in the pterygium group than in the control group respectively(P=0.024, 0.012, 0.009). TG level was higher in pterygium group than control, but there was not significance(P>0.05). HDL-C and APOA1 levels were lower in pterygium group than control, but there were not significance too(P>0.05). Statistically significant differences were present for the LDL-C levels among pterygium groups graded clinically(2.76±0.57mmol/L, 3.40±0.96mmol/L and 3.85±1.16mmol/L, P=0.036), but were not present all for TC, TG, HDL-C, APOA1 and APOB levels(P>0.05). Comparing the groups, LDL-C values were significantly higher in group 3 than in Group 1(P=0.012).

CONCLUSION: Hyperlipidemia has close relationship with bilateral primary pterygium and may be one of its risk factors.