Clinical studies of the effect of a Dengzhan Shengmai capsules on non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Dengzhan Shengmai capsules for patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods A total of 120 patients with NAION were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Of those, 60 control patients were treated only with compound anisodine (CA, 2 ml/injection, 1 per day) (the control group), while the remaining 60 patients, designated, the combination group, received a combined treatment of CA and a Dengzhan Shengmai capsule, 0.36 g/dose, 3 times/day (the combination group). Patients were followed for 3 months, and the overall curative effect, visual acuity, visual field mean sensitivity, and hemorheology indicators were measured. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and the t test. Results Forty-nine patients (70 eyes) in the control group and 51 patients (72 eyes) in the combination treatment group were followed for 3 months or more. Compared to the control group, the combination treatment produced significantly higher visual acuity and visual field mean sensitivity (t=-5.223, -3.690, P<0.05). In the combination group the plasma viscosity, whole blood high shear viscosity, low shear viscosity, hematokrit, and plasma fibrin were significantly lower than in the control group (t=1.224, 3.114, 7.458, 9.153, 2.105, respectively, P<0.05 for each). The total effective rates were 88% and 71% for the combination group and control group, respectively (Z=2.890, P<0.01). Conclusion Our results show that a combination of CA and Dengzhan Shengmai capsules improves visual acuity, visual field mean sensitivity and hemorheology indicators for NAION patients. Key words: Optic neuropathy; Hemorheology; Dengzhan Shengmai capsule