Neural Conduction Along the Visual Pathways After Oral Treatment With Citicoline in Patients With Optic Nerve Diseases
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-07-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
In the management of glaucoma, as for as in other optic nerve diseases, an important goal of
ophthalmologists is represented by the possibility of influencing visual function.
In this regard, Parisi et al [Ophthalmology 1999; 106:1126-1134.] suggested the intramuscular
treatment with Cytidine-5-diphosphocholine (CDP-Choline or citicoline) to improve
glaucomatous visual defects. In particular, recent studies reported the effects of citicoline
on glaucomatous retinal and postretinal visual structures evaluated by electrophysiological
examinations (PERG and VEP). It was observed that a 2-month period of treatment with
citicoline may induce improvement in both ganglion cell function (PERGs with increase in
amplitudes and shortening in times-to-peak) and in neural conduction along postretinal visual
pathways (VEPs with increase in amplitudes and shortening in times-to-peak). The effects of
citicoline on glaucomatous retinal and postretinal structures were not present 8 months after
the end of treatment. However, performing several 2-month period of treatment with citicoline
during a total period of 8 years, it was found a additional improvement of the glaucomatous
retinal and postretinal impairment [Parisi V. Doc Ophthalmol. 2005 Jan;110:91-102). In this
work, the investigators aimed to assess whether there similar visual function outcomes can be
reached by the oral treatment with citicoline in patients affected by glaucomatous optic
nerve disease as of as in other optic nerve diseases (i.e. non-arteritic ischemic optic
neuropathy)