title: Nerve growth factor eye drop administration improves visual function in a patient with optic glioma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous visual improvement in people with an optic glioma (OG) of the anterior or retrochiasmatic optic pathways is rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects on visual function of nerve growth factor (NGF) eye drop administration in a patient with severe visual impairment due to a low-grade OG.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 45-year-old woman with OG and long-standing optic nerve atrophy was assessed before and after 2 NGF treatment courses. The drug used was 2.5S murine NGF. One milligram of NGF, diluted in saline solution, was administered onto the conjunctiva of both eyes for 10 consecutive days 3 times a day for each treatment. The follow-up was performed by clinical, neuroradiologic, and electrophysiological tests (electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials [VEPs]) at the end of each treatment and 30 and 60 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A repeated subjective and objective improvement of visual function (>3 lines visual acuity; >40° visual field; >50% VEP amplitude increase, Wilcoxon test P < .01) was recorded after NGF treatment. These measures tended to deteriorate toward baseline values 60 days from the end of each NGF treatment. No ocular or systemic side effects were observed throughout treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conjunctival NGF may be a beneficial adjunct therapy for visual loss in patients with OG, possibly exerting its effects on residual viable optic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neuroscience, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy. achiaretti@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaretti
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falsini
authors.forename: Serenella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Servidei
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierri
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020339:Optic Nerve Glioma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor