ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Oftalmologica 2016 March;58(1):6-14

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Oral treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy with low-dose drugs: a monocentric retrospective observational study

Andrea A. BASILE, Laura SABATO

Unità Operativa di Oculistica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Azienda Ospedaliera “Ospedale Civile di Legnano”, Abbiategrasso, Milano, Italia

BACKGROUND: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a disease characterized by the detachment of the sensory retina localized in the macular region that leads to progressive degeneration of the retinal epithelium and consequent reduction in visual capabilities. Current drug therapies and parasurgical results partially fulfilling the expectations and are not free from adverse effects. Objective of the study is the retrospective assessment of the efficacy of low-dose oral drugs administration to reduce retinal thickness and reabsorption of subretinal fluid.
METHODS: Retrospective observational study spontaneous involved 13 patients treated by oral administration of Galium-Heel® and Solanum compositum ampoules (Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany) three times a week for 2 consecutive months, with controls (complete ophthalmological examination, retinal fluorescein-angiography, indocyanine green angiography, Optical Coherent Tomography, retinal autofluorescence evaluation) at the start of the therapy and after 30-60 days of treatment.
RESULTS: The observation of the evolution of the clinical picture of patients showed that 11 subjects have obtained the complete resolution of the disease in a period between 2 and 5 months. Two cases showed a partial improvement of the disease with subsequent occurrence of relapses.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the preliminary nature of the study, the use of low-dose drugs is effective in the treatment of CSC with proved high safety and compliance. The clinical results highlight the efficacy of the oral administration of low-dose drugs for the treatment of CSC and provide the methodological background and the preliminary results on which to base the study and the realization of further controlled trials.