Therapeutic effects of taurine and vit-E in retinitis pigmentosa

1990 
The effect of a treatment with taurine (1.2 g per day) and tocopherol (800 mg per day) was examined in 39 subjects affected with retinitis pigmentosa. Two main parameters of visual function. i.e. visual field size and visual acuity, were examined after 12, 24 and 30 months of treatment. The average changes in visual field area as compared to initial values were +5.6%, −18.3% and −26.9% in 12, 24 and 30 months, respectively. Some genetic groups responded more favorably to the treatment than others: in the autosomal recessive group, changes in the visual field area were +23%, −12.5%, −20.6%; in patients with Usher’s syndrome, +8.3%, +4.3%, −11%; in the X-linked group −8.9%, −20.9%, −27% and in the simplex cases, +0.1%, −35%, −57%. The autosomal dominant group has been followed during 12 months so far and a decrease of 3.5% was observed. Since the estimated average decrease of visual field area is 15%-17% of the remaining visual field per year, the taurine-tocopherol treatment appears beneficial in some groups. The visual acuity increased 63% in average in 48 subjects examined. The highest number of patients with increases in visual acuity was found in the autosomal dominant group (90%), followed by patients with Usher’s syndrome (80%). In the autosomal recessive group, 60% of patients showed increases in visual acuity and in the simplex and the X-linked groups, increases in this parameter were found in 50% and 36% of subjects, respectively. A beneficial effect of treatment with taurine and tocopherol seems to be exerted in patients of both autosomal groups and of Usher’s syndrome.
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