Ricerc@Sapienza

Background: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the nervous retinal elements which connect the visual receptors to the brain forming the nervous visual system. Functional and/or morphological involvement of RGCs occurs in several ocular and neurological disorders and therefore these cells are targeted in neuroprotective strategies.Cytidine 5-diphosphocholine or Citicoline is an endogenous compound that acts in the biosynthesis of phospholipids of cell membranes and increases neurotransmitters' levels in the Central Nervous System.

To evaluate whether treatment with Citicoline in oral solution (OS-Citicoline) would increase visual function, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) function, and neural conduction along visual pathways (neuroenhancement), and/or induce preservation of RGCs fibers' loss (neuroprotection) in non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a human model of neurodegeneration.

Abstract: Purpose: to study the neuroprotective effect of oral citicoline (CT) in patients with primary
open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: this study recruits 110 patients with stage IV POAG and
well-controlled intraocular pressure (IOP). Enrollees were randomly allocated in two groups: therapy
group (TG) or control group (CG). Subjects in TG were treated with citicoline 500 mg / die for 4

.