LDL apheresis in the treatment of non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy: A 6-month follow-up study

Abstract

Purpose: Verify the recovery of visual capacity after the administration of a combination of LDL apheresis (LA) and conventional therapy (CT). Design, prospective and interventional case series.Methods20 patients affected by NAION were randomly subdivided into two groups of 10 patients (Group 1 and Group 2). Group 1 underwent three sessions of LA associated with CT, whereas group 2 received only CT. At discharge and at the 6 months follow-up visit, assessment in both groups was made of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the computerised visual field (CVF), comparing the findings with those at admission in each patient.ResultsOnly the mean deviation (MD) at CVF was statistically improved in group 1 as compared with group 2 at discharge, judged against the values at admission (11.086.51 vs 16.5310.03, P0.039; 175.24 vs 14.149.42, respectively). However, this increase was not confirmed at 6 months (16.8310.72, group 1; 13.563.60 group 2).ConclusionIn NAION, LA induced a short term improvement in the MD, but by 6 months this had disappeared. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.