More research into CNTF treatment required

According to a study published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science more research into the effect of sustained-release ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) treatment, on patients with inherited retinal degenerations, using high-resolution imaging techniques is required.

Dr Jacque L. Duncan from the Beckman Vision Center, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA, led a study group in the examination of the cone photoreceptor structure and function of the 2 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 1 patient with usher syndrome.

All patients participated in a phase II clinical trial and were treated with sustained-release CNTF delivered by an encapsulated cell technology implant in one eye and sham surgery in the other. The outcome measures were obtained using AOSLO.

The results show that outer retinal layers were significantly thicker in CNTF treated eyes than the sham-treated eyes. The findings demonstrated there were no significant changes in VA, visual field sensitivity or ERG responses. AOSLO is a sensitive way to measure disease progression and reactions to treatment in patients. A larger study is required to determine the effect of CNTF treatment in inherited retinal degenerations.