[Structural and functional changes in the retina of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and compensated...

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intramuscular Retinalamin for retinoprotection in patients with open-angle glaucoma and normalized intraocular pressure (IOP).

The study included 180 patients (355 eyes) randomized into the main (n=90) and control groups (n=90). The patients of the main group received intramuscular Retinalamin injections; the course was repeated 6 months later. Patient examination was performed at 1, 3, 6, 7, 9 and 12 months.

Vision acuity did not change in the main group after the treatment courses (p=0.3732, p=0.6862), nor in the control group (p=0.7751). IOP didn't have significant changes during the whole course of the study neither in the main group (p=0.7632), nor in the control group (p=0.3921). MD index in the main group has increased from -5.52±2.76 to -4.82±2.73 dB (measurements from 6 visits: p=0.0391, p=0.0201, p=0.0302, p=0.3708, p=0.0151, p=0.0353). Control group showed negative MD trend (from -3.51±1.84 to -4.60±2.61 dB; p=0.0012). PSD index has changed from 4.63±1.60 to 4.05±1.43 dB (p=0.0081) in the main group, and from 3.73±1.19 to 4.29±1.53 dB (p=0.0027) in the control group. Average thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the volume of neuroretinal rim were stable in both the main (p=0.8039, p=0.9005) and the control groups (p=0.7448, p=0.9620). Ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness remained stable in the main group (p=0.0377), but has decreased in the control group (p=0.0250). P50 amplitude and latency were stable in the main group (6.54±2.61-6.53±2.64 µV, p=0.0479; 48.39±3.69-50.86±4.09 ms, p=0.0271), while in the control group P50 amplitude has decreased (p=0,0031) and the latency has increased (p=0,0194). In the main group, N95 amplitude has stabilized (p=0.0141) with worsened latency (p=0.0492). N95 amplitude in the control group has worsened (p=0.0195), while latency has stabilized (p=0.3401).

Systemic use of Retinalamin has significant retinoprotective effect confirmed by the dynamics of morphological and functional parameters in patients with POAG and IOP compensation.