No abstract

The favourable neurotrophic effects obtained by means of the intramuscular administration of citicoline, one of the intermediate compounds of phospholipids, on the visual field of patients suffering from open-angle glaucoma are referred. The drug was administered at the dose of 1 gm for ten consecutive days. Visual field was examined by means of central computerized perimetry and automated perimetry. All patients had well controlled intraocular pressure through beta-blockers, but presented characteristic glaucomatous perimetric defects. It is suggested that citicoline might be administered as a useful complement to conventional hypotensive therapy, since it acts positively on the glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

The study refers to the clinical experiences performed with several D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors agonists in 20 patients with high tension open angle glaucoma. The substances were administered topically as eye drops as well as an ocular eye bath. The parameter examined was intraocular pressure (IOP). The substances taken in consideration were: Dopamine, Ibopamine (dopamine analog), Fenoldopam and 3B90 (D1-receptor agonists) and Bromocriptine (dopaminergic agonist with higher affinity for D2 than for D1-receptors). It has been shown that all selective D1-receptors agonists induce a significant increase in IOP only in eyes with hydrodynamic disorders (p < 0.001). Such hypertensive effects could not be antagonized either by topically administered dopaminergic antagonists (Sulpiride, D2-receptors antagonist, and Haloperidol, non-selective dopaminergic antagonist) or by the pretreatment with the commonly used topical antiglaucomatous drugs. The only substance which proved able to inhibit the IOP increase induced by the D1-receptors agonists was the D1-selective antagonist SCH-23390, suggesting that IOP increase may be a result of a stimulation of the D1-receptors. The authors hypothesize that dopaminergic system may play a role in the regulation of aqueous humor hydrodynamics.

D1-dopaminergic stimulation due to ibopamine increases IOP as a result of increased production of the aqueous humor in participants with an impaired outflow. The study showed that offspring of at least 1 parent with primary openangle glaucoma--offspring without glaucomatous damages--show an increase of IOP after ibopamine administration, which signifies an impaired function of outflow structures and, therefore, a predisposition to intraocular hypertension and possible glaucoma.

Summary We report here the results obtained in a group of 52 eyes affected by open‐angle Glaucoma (OAG), whose intraocular pressure (IOP) was inadequately controlled by two drugs of different pharmacological categories, into which there was introduced Latanoprost, both in place of one of the two drugs and in addition to the preceding therapy. The ocular hypotensive effect was good (21.74%). The ibopamine provocative test, carried out before the Latanoprost administration, and at 3 and 6 months into treatment gave evidence that outflow pathway compromission was uninfluenced by the drug.