EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH RETINITIS-PIGMENTOSA RECEIVING ELECTRIC-STIMULATION, OZONATED BLOOD, AND OCULAR SURGERY IN CUBA

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intervention with electric stimul ation, autotransfused ozonated blood, and ocular surgery, performed in Cuba, on the course of the common forms of retinitis pigmentosa. Desi gn: Ocular evaluations over 6 to 8 months before and after interventio n in Cuba. Setting: Evaluations performed at a US clinical research fa cility. Patients: Ten adult patients aged 25 to 67 years with retiniti s pigmentosa. Main Outcome Measure: Visual acuity, visual held area, a nd electroretinogram (ERG) amplitude. Results: No significant change i n visual acuity or visual field area was observed on average between p reintervention and postintervention values over a 6- to 8-month interv al. Mean 30-Hz cone ERG amplitude declined by 15.5% between preinterve ntion and postintervention values (P=.006). When data on change in vis ual field area from 1 statistically significant outlier were excluded from the analysis, a significant decline of 12.9% in mean visual field area was observed (P=.025). Conclusions: These data support the concl usion that the intervention offered in Cuba provides no benefit to pat ients with retinitis pigmentosa as measured by visual acuity, visual f ield area, and ERG. The magnitudes of the mean declines observed in ER G amplitude and visual field area over a 6- to 8-month interval, relat ive to those reported in previous studies, raise the possibility that this intervention may worsen the course of the disease.