title: Effects of coenzyme Q10 in conjunction with vitamin E on retinal-evoked and cortical-evoked responses in patients with open-angle glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pattern-evoked retinal and cortical responses [pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual-evoked potential (VEP), respectively] after treatment with coenzyme Q10 in conjunction with vitamin E in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three OAG patients (mean age, 52.5±5.29 y; intraocular pressure <18 mm Hg with β-blocker monoterapy only) were enrolled. At baseline and after 6 and 12 months, simultaneous recordings of PERG and VEPs were obtained from 22 OAG patients who underwent treatment consisting of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E (Coqun, 2 drops/d) in addition to β-blocker monoterapy (GC group), and from 21 OAG patients who were only treated with β-blockers (GP group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, intraocular pressure, PERG, and VEP parameters were similar in both GC and GP groups (analysis of variance, P>0.05). After 6 and 12 months, PERG and VEP response parameters of GP patients were unchanged when compared to baseline. In GC patients, PERG P50 and VEP P100 implicit times were decreased, whereas PERG P50-N95 and VEP N75-P100 amplitudes were increased (P<0.01) when compared to baseline. In the GC group, the differences in implicit times and amplitudes with respect to baseline were significantly larger (P<0.01) than those recorded in the GP group. The improvement (12 mo minus baseline) of VEP implicit time was significantly correlated with the changes of PERG P50-N95 amplitude (r=-0.66171, P=0.0008) and P50 implicit time (r=0.68364, P=0.00045) over a period of 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coenzyme Q10 associated with vitamin E administration in OAG shows a beneficial effect on the inner retinal function (PERG improvement) with consequent enhancement of the visual cortical responses (VEP improvement).
authors: *Fondazione per l'Oftalmologia G. B. Bietti, IRCCS †Clinica Oculistica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata §Clinica Oculistica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma ‡Clinica Oculistica Università di Parma, Parma ∥Clinica Oculistica, Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Ospedale San Paolo, Milano ¶Dipartimento di Oftalmologia-Otorinolaringoiatria, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Parisi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Centofanti
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Gandolfi
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Marangoni
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Rossetti
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Tanga
authors: Mariagrazia
authors: M
authors: Tardini
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Traina
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Ungaro
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Vetrugno
authors: Benedetto
authors: B
authors: Falsini
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D014451:Ubiquinone; D014810:Vitamin E; C024989:coenzyme Q10