What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated 33 cases of maculopathy in 54 patients with typical retinitis pigmentosa and conducted two small therapeutic trials.
What They Found
Among the 33 maculopathies studied, atrophic macular degeneration was most common (31 cases, 49%), followed by cystoid macular edema (1 case, 3%) and macular retraction syndrome (1 case, 3%). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed a positive result in the single patient with cystoid macular edema, while cyclophosphamide treatment in six patients with atrophic foveolopathies yielded inconclusive results.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study explored different types of maculopathy in retinitis pigmentosa and very early experimental treatments. Patients should consult their ophthalmologist for current, evidence-based treatment options for retinitis pigmentosa and associated maculopathies.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
Key limitations include the very small sample size for the therapeutic trials and the observational nature of most of the study.