title: Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on preexisting visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on preexisting visual field damage in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked cross-over trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients with bilateral visual field damage resulting from NTG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received 40 mg GBE, administered orally, three times daily for 4 weeks, followed by a wash-out period of 8 weeks, then 4 weeks of placebo treatment (identical capsules filled with 40 mg fructose). Other patients underwent the same regimen, but took the placebo first and the GBE last. Visual field tests, performed at baseline and at the end of each phase of the study, were evaluated for changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in visual field and any ocular or systemic complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After GBE treatment, a significant improvement in visual fields indices was recorded: mean deviation (MD) at baseline versus MD after GBE treatment, 11.40 +/- 3.27 dB versus 8.78 +/- 2.56 dB (t = 8.86, P = 0.0001, chi-square test); corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) at baseline versus CPSD after GBE treatment, 10.93 +/- 2.12 dB versus 8.13 +/- 2.12 dB (t = 9.89, P = 0.0001, chi-square test). No significant changes were found in intraocular pressure, blood pressure, or heart rate after placebo or GBE treatment. Any ocular and systemic side effects were recorded for the duration of the trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginkgo biloba extract administration appears to improve preexisting visual field damage in some patients with NTG.
authors.affiliation: Centro Glaucoma, Clinica Oculistica Università di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy. Quaranta@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bettelli
authors.forename: Maurizio G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Uva
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turano
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gandolfo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts