title: Nerve growth factor eye drops improve visual acuity and electrofunctional activity in age-related macular degeneration: a case report.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a severe disease affecting visual function in the elderly. Currently available surgical and medical options do not guarantee a significant impact on the outcome of the disease. We describe the effects of nerve growth factor eye drop treatment in a 94 years old female with ARMD, whose visual acuity was progressively worsening in spite of previous surgical and medical treatments. NGF eye drops improved visual acuity and electrofunctional parameters as early as 3 months after initiation of treatment. These results are in line with previous reports on a neuroprotective effect of NGF on retinal cells and on NGF eye drops bioavailability in the retina and optic nerve. No side effects were observed after five years of follow-up, suggesting that topical NGF treatment may be a safe and effective therapy for ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Oftalmologia, Università Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coassin
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tirassa
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mantelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor