Erythropoietin in Treatment of Methanol Optic Neuropathy

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Title Erythropoietin in Treatment of Methanol Optic Neuropathy
Creator Farzad Pakdel, MD; Mostafa S. Sanjari, MD; Asieh Naderi, PhD; Niloofar Pirmarzdashti, MD; Anousheh Haghighi, MD; Mohsen B. Kashkouli, MD
Affiliation Department of Ophthalmology (FP, MSS, MBK), Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Department of Ophthalmology (FP), Eye Research Center, Farabi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Eye Research Center (AN, NP), Farabi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; and Department of Internal Medicine (AH), Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract Methanol poisoning can cause an optic neuropathy that is usually severe and irreversible and often occurs after ingestion of illicit or homemade alcoholic beverages. In this study, we evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on visual acuity (VA) in patients with methanol optic neuropathy. In a prospective, noncomparative interventional case series, consecutive patients with methanol optic neuropathy after alcoholic beverage ingestion were included. All patients initially received systemic therapy including metabolic stabilization and detoxification. Treatment with intravenous recombinant human EPO consisted of 20,000 units/day for 3 successive days. Depending on clinical response, some patients received a second course of EPO. VA, funduscopy, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography were assessed during the study. Main outcome measure was VA. Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients with methanol optic neuropathy were included. Mean age was 34.2 years (±13.3 years). The mean time interval between methanol ingestion and treatment with intravenous EPO was 9.1 days (±5.56 days). Mean follow-up after treatment was 7.5 months (±5.88 months). Median VA in the better eye of each patient before treatment was light perception (range: 3.90-0.60 logMAR). Median last acuity after treatment in the best eye was 1.00 logMAR (range: 3.90-0.00 logMAR). VA significantly increased in the last follow-up examination (P < 0.0001). Age and time to EPO treatment after methanol ingestion were not significantly related to final VA. No ocular or systemic complications occurred in our patient cohort. Intravenous EPO appears to improve VA in patients with methanol optic neuropathy and may represent a promising treatment for this disorder.
Subject Adolescent; Adult; Erythropoietin; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Methanol; Middle Older people; Ophthalmoscopy; Optic Nerve Diseases; Prospective Studies; Recombinant Proteins; Solvents; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity; Young Adult
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Date 2018-06
Language eng
Format application/pdf
Type Text
Publication Type Journal Article
Source Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, June 2018, Volume 38, Issue 2
Collection Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library: Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology Archives: https://novel.utah.edu/jno/
Publisher Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Holding Institution Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah
Rights Management © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
ARK ark:/87278/s62v72f2
Setname ehsl_novel_jno
ID 1452562
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s62v72f2
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