[Modification of vision by change in rheologic parameters in senile macular degeneration through membrane differential filtration--initial results of a randomized study].
BACKGROUND
Membrane differential filtration (MDF) is known to optimize rheological parameters by eliminating high molecular weight proteins und lipoproteins from the blood and was shown to influence ocular perfusion parameters. Following the hypothesis that these changes may influence the natural course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) we tested their efficacy in improving visual function in these patients in a randomized trial.


METHODS
20 patients (36 eyes) were randomized into two groups. Ten patients (18 eyes) were treated with MDF and ten (18 eyes) served as controls. The first group was treated five times over a period of 21 weeks. In both groups 8/18 of the eyes showed subfoveolar subretinal neovascularisations. Main parameter of the study was visual acuity. Macular visual evoked potentials were also recorded. Plasmaviscosity, whole blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation were measured.


RESULTS
The ten patients, treated repeatedly over a period of 21 weeks, showed a mean improvement 1.1 (SD 1.9) lines after 21 weeks, while the control group showed a deterioration of visual acuity (0.6 lines, SD 1.7). The macular visual evoked potentials showed an increase of 0.28 microV (SD 1.12) for the therapy group and a deterioration of 0.57 microV (SD 1.31) in the control group. The rheological parameters were lowered in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that repetitive treatment with MDF is able to improve visual function in patients with AMD. Further research is necessary to show how to optimize the selection of patients and how to create an individual treatment strategy.
Widder
R A
RA
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universität zu Köln.
Brunner
R
R
Walter
P
P
Bartz-Schmidt
K U
KU
Godehardt
E
E
Heimann
K
K
Borberg
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006440:Hemofiltration; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D019233:Retreatment; D012212:Rheology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
D001798:Blood Proteins
Beeinflussung des Visus durch Anderung rheologischer Parameter bei der altersabhängigen Makuladegeneration (AMD) durch die Membrandifferentialfiltration--Erste Ergebnisse einer randomisierten Studie.