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Evidence of the neuroprotective role of citicoline in glaucoma patients

Vincenzo Parisi1, Giovanni Coppola, Marco Centofanti

  • 1G.B. Bietti Eye Foundation-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. vparisi@tin.it

Progress in Brain Research
|October 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Citicoline (cytidine-5’-diphosphocholine) treatment improved retinal function and visual pathway conduction in glaucoma patients. Benefits were treatment-dependent, suggesting neuroprotective effects for glaucoma management.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Glaucoma is increasingly viewed as a disease affecting both ocular and central nervous system visual structures.
  • A neuroprotective pharmacological approach, similar to that used for other degenerative brain disorders, is being explored for glaucoma.
  • Citicoline (cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine) is a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of citicoline on retinal function and neural conduction in glaucoma patients.
  • To determine if citicoline exhibits neuroprotective properties in the context of glaucomatous visual dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Patients with moderate visual defects due to glaucoma received oral (1600 mg/day) or intramuscular (1000 mg/day) citicoline for two 60-day periods.
  • Retinal function was assessed using pattern electroretinogram (PERG) recordings.
  • Neural conduction in visual pathways was evaluated via visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings.
  • Washout periods and extended treatment (up to 8 years) were employed to assess treatment dependency and long-term effects.

Main Results:

  • Citicoline treatment led to objective improvements in retinal function (PERG) and neural conduction (VEP).
  • A partial regression of these improvements was observed after washout periods, indicating treatment dependency.
  • Long-term citicoline administration (up to 8 years) resulted in stabilization or improvement of glaucomatous visual dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Citicoline demonstrates beneficial effects on visual pathway function in glaucoma patients.
  • The observed improvements are partially dependent on continued treatment, suggesting a neuroprotective role.
  • Citicoline holds promise as a neuroprotective agent for managing glaucomatous disease.

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