Evaluation of patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving electric stimulation, ozonated blood, and ocular surgery in Cuba

E. L. Berson, J. F. Remulla, B. Rosner, M. A. Sandberg and C. Weigel-DiFranco
Berman-Gund Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intervention with electric stimulation, autotransfused ozonated blood, and ocular surgery, performed in Cuba, on the course of the common forms of retinitis pigmentosa. DESIGN: Ocular evaluations over 6 to 8 months before and after intervention in Cuba. SETTING: Evaluations performed at a US clinical research facility. PATIENTS: Ten adult patients aged 25 to 67 years with retinitis pigmentosa. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity, visual field area, and electroretinogram (ERG) amplitude. RESULTS: No significant change in visual acuity or visual field area was observed on average between preintervention and postintervention values over a 6- to 8-month interval. Mean 30-Hz cone ERG amplitude declined by 15.5% between preintervention and postintervention values (P = .006). When data on change in visual 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 conclusion that the intervention offered in Cuba provides no benefit to patients with retinitis pigmentosa as measured by visual acuity, visual field area, and ERG. The magnitudes of the mean declines observed in ERG amplitude and visual field area over a 6- to 8-month interval, relative to those reported in previous studies, raise the possibility that this intervention may worsen the course of the disease.