Effects of nicergoline on the retinal and cortical electrophysiological responses in glaucoma patients: A preliminary open study

Purpose: The retinal dysfunction and the delayed visual cortex responses sh own by patients affected by glaucoma can be objectively assessed by Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) and Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) recordings. Th e present study aims to evaluate the effects of nicergoline on the retinal function and on the visual cortical responses in glaucoma patients. Methods : Sixty patients (mean age 44.6 +/- 3.7) with open angle glaucoma were enro lled. The patients were divided into two groups: NG Group, where 30 patient s were treated with nicergoline (Cebran(R), 2 cps day) for 30 days; and CG Group, where 30 patients were not treated. Simultaneous recordings of PERG and VEP were performed in NG patients at the baseline, at 30 days after tre atment with nicergoline (day 30), and at 45 days from the end of the treatm ent (day 75). PERG and VEP were recorded in CG patients at the baseline and after 30 and 75 days. The visual stimulus for recording PERGs and VEPs was a checkerboard whose elements subtended a visual are of 60' and 15' with a 70% contrast, and alternated at a frequency of 2 Hz. Results: At the basel ine none of the electrophysiological parameters observed in NG Group patien ts differed (P > 0.05) from those of CG Group patients. At days 30 and 75, in CG Group patients the values of the PERG and VEP parameters were unmodif ied (P > 0.05) with respect to the baseline. In NG Group patients, the 30-d ay treatment period with nicergoline induced a significant (P < 0.01) impro vement of the PERG and VEP parameters. At day 75 all the electrophysiologic al parameters of NG Group did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from thos e at the baseline. Conclusion: Treatment with nicergoline induces an improv ement of the retinal function and of the visual cortical responses in patie nts affected by glaucoma. This effect disappears within 45 days after the s uspension of the treatment. (C) 1999 Academic Press.