title: Improvement of central retinal sensitivity six months after topical isopropyl unoprostone in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Isopropyl unoprostone (IU), a maxi-K channel activator, is used topically to treat glaucoma, and has been reported to have neuroprotective effects on retinal neurons in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this non-comparative pilot study was to determine whether topical IU will alter the sensitivity of the central retina in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-comparative pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  IU was given topically twice a day for 6 months to both eyes of 30 patients with typical RP. The visual acuity was measured with a Japanese Snellen chart, and the mean retinal sensitivities were obtained by fundus-related microperimetry (MP-1). The mean deviation (MD) of the visual field was determined with a Humphrey field analyzer (HFA). All measurements were made before and 6 months after the treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wilcoxon and the Mann-Whitney U tests (SPSS, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment, the mean retinal sensitivity within the central 2° and 10° improved significantly from 12.3 ± 4.8 dB to 14.7 ± 5.5 dB (P = 0.001) and from 9.1 ± 5.4 dB to 11.0 ± 6.2 dB (P = 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These short-term results suggest topical IU can improve the central retinal sensitivity in RP patients. It will be necessary to examine longer treatment periods in a controlled study to determine the effectiveness of topical IU in RP patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Kazuha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C072630:isopropyl unoprostone; D015237:Dinoprost