[Oscillatory potentials in retinitis pigmentosa with TCM treatment]

Computer-averaged oscillatory potentials (OPs) of electroretinogram (ERG) were recorded in 54 patients affected by different hereditary forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) before and after three-months of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study was conducted in order to investigate the alterations of physiological function in inner part of the retina affected by RP. The results showed that OP waveforms were recordable in 22 and 27 patients before and after TCM treatment, respectively. The amplitudes of summed OPs (sigma OPs) were increased significantly in patients with different hereditary modes of RP, and also in those by clinical TCM classification after the treatment. The component-specific amplitudes of OPs were observed. In particular, OP2 showed an elevation in both dominant and nondominant patient groups, while OP3 only showed an elevation in the dominant group. The results suggest that OP2, which represents mainly cone OP activity, could be improved in the patients extensively; and OP3, which represents mainly rod OP activity, could be improved only in the patients with less advanced retinal degeneration. These data provide evidence that visual function in the inner retina of patient with RP could be improved to a certain extent with TCM treatment.