title: Effect of epigallocatechin-gallate on inner retinal function in ocular hypertension and glaucoma: a short-term study by pattern electroretinogram.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) is a powerful antioxidant with suggested neuroprotective action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term supplementation of EGCG on inner retinal function in ocular hypertension (OHT) and open-angle glaucoma (OAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen OHT and 18 OAG patients (perimetric mean deviation: >-10 dB) were randomly assigned to assume oral placebo or EGCG over a 3-month period in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00476138). Pattern-evoked electroretinograms (PERGs) to 1.6 cycles/degree square-wave gratings, counterphased at 16 reversals/second, and standard automated perimetry (Humphrey 30-2) were assessed at the study entry (baseline), and after 3 months of placebo or EGCG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After EGCG, PERGs of OAG, but not OHT patients were increased in amplitude, compared either to baseline values (mean amplitude change: 0.06 log microV, p < 0.05) or to PERG amplitude values found in the same patients after placebo administration (mean change: -0.02 log microV, p not significant; difference between EGCG and placebo: 0.08 log microV, p < 0.05). In both OHT and OAG patients, standard automated perimetry did not show significant changes after either EGCG or placebo. In individual OAG patients, the magnitude of PERG amplitude increment after EGCG was inversely related (r = -0.8, p < 0.01) to corresponding baseline amplitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study cannot provide evidence for long-term benefit of EGCG supplementation in OAG, and the observed effect is small, the results suggest that EGCG might favourably influence inner retinal function in eyes with early to moderately advanced glaucomatous damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, Catholic University, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. md0571@mclink.it
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falsini
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salgarello
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stifano
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montrone
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Landro
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guccione
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrazzi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colotto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate