Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility as a Diagnostic Marker in Glaucoma: A Comprehensive Analysis Using LASSO Regression

ObjectiveThis study investigates the potential of blood biomarkers in the early diagnosis of glaucoma, focusing on erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) as a novel indicator. We used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression to evaluate EOFs predictive utility for glaucoma diagnosis. MethodsWe included 195 confirmed glaucoma patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were analyzed for various parameters, including white blood cell count, neutrophil count, red blood cell (RBC) count, and EOF. Key differential markers were identified, and a predictive model was constructed using LASSO regression models. ResultsLASSO regression analysis identified HCT, NEUT, LYMPH, MCV, MCHC, and EOF as critical blood biomarkers discriminating glaucoma patients from healthy controls. Incorporating EOF into the model significantly enhanced its predictive performance, with EOF showing a positive correlation with the likelihood of glaucoma. ConclusionsEOF is a promising predictive biomarker for glaucoma. Combining EOF with other blood biomarkers significantly improves the accuracy of glaucoma diagnosis.