Effect of Fixed Combination Citicoline Homotaurine and Pyrroloquinoline Quinone on Pattern-electroretinogram in Glaucoma

Our general purpose is to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of supplementation of a fixed combination of Citicoline 500 mg plus Homotaurine 50 mg plus Pyrroloquinoline quinone on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) function in subjects with glaucoma by pattern electroretinogram.

Primary objective To compare the effects of adding the fixed combination of Citicoline 500 mg plus Homotaurine 50 mg plus Pyrroloquinoline quinone (Neuprozin Mito® - NPM) a tablet a day on PERG examination (p50 wave) at four months of therapy, compared to citicoline 800 mg alone (Cebrolux® - CIT), as add-on to standard topical therapy.

Secondary objectives

To compare the two treatments (Neuprozin Mito® - NPM vs citicoline - CIT - alone) in terms of:

• visual acuity over time
• visual field changes over time, if any
• Quality of Life perception (National Eye Institute-Visual function questionnaire 25 item -NEI VFQ25 questionnaire) over time
• optical coherence tomography - OCT- changes over time, if any

• Safety (Incidence of adverse events)

Study design and planning Multicentric, randomized, 2-sequence, 2-period, 2-treatment, crossover study, with blind outcome assessor.

Centers

• Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II ; UOC Oculistica, Napoli
• Clinica Oculistica dell'Università degli Studi di Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia.
• Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Chirurgiche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Roma

Study duration Study duration ; 14 months Enrolment period: 6 months Minimum Follow-up: 8 months Total sample size: 40 patients

Inclusion criteria

• age > 18 years;
• diagnosis of primary OAG (POAG) from, at least, 3 years;
• visual acuity > 0.7 (7/10) decimals;
• refractive error < 5 Diopter (D) (spheric) and < 2D (toric);
• transparent diopter means (cornea and lens);
• controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) (<18 mmHg, morning value) with prostaglandin analogues as monotherapy;
• stable intraocular pressure - IOP < 18 mmHg in the last 2 years;
• stable and unchanged topical therapy in the last 6 months;
• at least two reliable visual fields (Humphrey 24-2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm-SITA Standard) per year in the last 2 years;
• early to moderate visual field defect (mean deviation, MD <12 dB);
• electrophysiological (pattern electroretinogram-PERG) parameters alterations similar to glaucomatous pathology;
• written consent to participate to study procedures and data utilization in an anonymous form

Exclusion criteria

• ocular hypertension with normal optic nerve and visual field; angle closure glaucoma; congenital glaucoma; secondary glaucoma; normal tension glaucoma;
• history of recurrent uveitis/scleritis/herpes infection;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• contraindication to Citicoline and/or Homotaurine and/or pyrroloquinoline quinone -PQQ
• contraindication to prostaglandine analogues
• topical therapy with Brimonidine or beta-blockers as monotherapy or fixed combination
• topical therapy with pilocarpine and aceclidine, monotherapy or fixed combination
• systemic or topical treatment with another neuroprotective agent in the last 4 months prior to enrollment
• systemic betablockers
• systemic therapies affecting patients' performance in visual field examination (sedatives);
• glaucomatous scotomas within 10 degree from fixation
• any condition limiting the patient's ability to participate in the study;
• other ocular causes of visual field and PERG changes, such as cataract, myopic chorioretinopathy, macular diseases, retinal vascular occlusion, diabetic retinopathy;
• other systemic causes of visual field and PERG changes such as neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, acute lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis) or pituitary disorders;
• cerebral ischemia in the last 2 years
• any change in topical therapy in the 6 months prior to enrollment or during the study period
• concomitant participation to another clinical trial
• any previous filtering and/or retinal surgery;
• cataract surgery in the last 6 months;
• any previous laser treatment for glaucoma in the last 5 years