Italo Giuffre
Catholic University of Roma, Italy
Title: Evaluation of visual field and PERG parameters of glaucomatous patients under oral supplement of forskolin, magnesium, homotaurin, l-carnosin, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and folic acid
Biography
Biography: Italo Giuffre
Abstract
Background: Forskolin, magnesium, homotaurin, L-carnosin, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and folic acid are the main ingredients of a food supplement commercially available. This drug contributes to a small reduction of IOP in glaucomatous patients who are poorly responsive to multitherapy treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate a possible change of visual field and pattern-electroretinogram (PERG) parameters after oral supplement of this drug.
Patients & Methods: This is a single center, retrospective study. It was conducted on files of 20 (10M, 10F) treated glaucomatous patients and 20 (10M, 10F) untreated controls. All these patients were affected by open-angle glaucoma under monotherapy but this association was supplemented twice a day to 20 patients as long as 12 months. The ophthalmological data (IOP, pachymetry, visual field assessment by FDT 30-2 strategy pattern standard deviation, PERG) were checked at time 0, 3 6, 9 and 12 months from the beginning of the oral therapy. The statistical analysis was performed by descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and Wilcoxon test. Results were considered significantly different when p<0.05.
Results: The two groups were age and sex-matched (p=0.335). The two groups were also matched as for pachymetry (p=0.187). The visual field parameter (mean deviation and pattern standard deviation by FDT 30-2 strategy) was statistically significantly different only at time 12 months (p=0.04). The PERG amplitude increases by 16.12%±2.6 at time 9 months and fovea sensitivity by 16.57%±3.2 at time 6 months (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Our preliminary data stress the neuroprotective effect of the association of forskolin, magnesium, homotaurin, L-carnosin, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and folic acid from a campimetric and electrophysiological point of view.