advertisement
Abstract #19476 Published in IGR 9-3
Clinical evaluation of the neuroprotective effect of alpha-tocopherol against glaucomatous damage
Engin KN; Engin G; Kucuksahin H; Oncu M; Guvener BEuropean Journal of Ophthalmology 2007; 17: 528-533
PURPOSE: To evaluate the vasoregulatory effect of antioxidant α-tocopherol on retina via protein kinase C pathway. METHODS: Thirty glaucomatous patients (60 eyes) were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups. For patients in Group A, tocopherol was not supplemented in their therapy. Patients in Groups B and C received 300 and 600 mg/day of oral α-tocopherol acetate, respectively. The ultimate blood tocopherol levels were confirmed via high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Progression of the disease for each subject was monitored via visual field measurements and color Doppler imaging of ophthalmic and posterior ciliary arteries at the beginning and at the 6th and 12th months of this study. RESULTS: The average differences between the pulsatility indexes (PI) and resistivity indexes (RI) of both ophthalmic arteries (OA) and posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) of Groups B and C were significantly lower than those of Group A at months 6 and 12. In trial groups, RI decreases observed in PCAs at months 6 and 12 and PI decreases observed in OAs at the 6th month were statistically significant. Differences of mean deviations with visual fields in Groups B and C were highly significantly lower than that of Group A. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-Tocopherol deserves attention beyond its antioxidant properties for protecting retina from glaucomatous damage.
Dr. K.N. Engin, Department of Ophthalmology, V. Gureba Education Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Classification:
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
