title: The early effect of nerve growth factor in the management of serious optic nerve contusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the aim was to investigate the early effect of nerve growth factor in the management of serious optic nerve contusion (ONC).
  
  
  METHODS
  nine patients with unilateral serious optic nerve contusion (seven males and two females) were enrolled in this study. Corticosteroid, energy mixture, red sage root, vitamins B1 and B12 were used for all patients within three weeks after trauma. Five of the nine patients were injected intramuscularly with 30 microg/time of nerve growth factor solution (once a day for a total of 14 days). Each patient was subjected to pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) examination and visual field test before and 14 days after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the visual acuity, latency of P100 in VEP and mean deviation in Humphrey Field Analyzer of all patients were improved after 14 days. The subtraction of latency of P100 in VEP between pre- and post-treatment showed a significant difference between the nerve growth factor treatment patients and the control patients (p = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the application of NGF within three weeks after trauma could promote the recovery of visual function in the patients with serious optic nerve contusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. yszhong68@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor