Retinitis Pigmentosa patients treated with ozone therapy during 20 years. Cuban experiences

Resumen

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by bad night vision, decrease of visual field and/or acuity, with electroretinogram (ERG) diminished in amplitude and finally, non reproducible. Taking into account some of the ozone biological effects, as: improvement in the oxygen metabolism, increase in the cell energy, the immunomodulator capacity and enhancement of the antioxidant defense system the aim of this paper is to assess ozone therapy’s efficacy in these patients, treated twice a year during 20 years. A controlled and retrospective clinical study was performed in 56 patients with Typical Retinitis Pigmentosa (non-associated), with sample homogeneity, in age, sex and stage of the disease, and with signed informed consent. Forty patients received ozone daily, by rectal way, during 20 sessions (at a concentration of 40 mg/L and a volume of 200 mL) as only treatment, with repetition of this cycle every 6 months, and 16 received other medical treatments (control group). Results showed that, after 10 years, patients in stages I and II had a better response to ozone therapy, and this response was more lasting, with an improvement attained as of 4 months, which is the shortest time period for patients in stages II and IV. After 20 years of treatment, 50.1 % of patients improved their visual field, 31.1 % remained the same and 18 % followed the course of the disease. In respect to visual acuity, we observed that 37.5% of patients improved, 34.9 % remained stable and 27.6 % continued the course of the disease. It is recommended to apply ozone therapy at six-month intervals in order to delay the course of the disease and maintain the visual capabilities. No side effects were observed. Ozone therapy is a good therapeutic choice in the treatment of patients with RP increasing their quality of life.