Korean J Ophthalmol.  2011 Oct;25(5):323-328. 10.3341/kjo.2011.25.5.323.

Short-Term Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow in Normal Tension Glaucoma

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, NHIC Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea. malgnnun@freechal.com
  • 2The Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Based on the vascular theory of glaucoma pathogenesis, we wanted to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on peripapillary blood flow in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
METHODS
Thirty patients with NTG were randomly placed in the GBE-treated or control groups. The GBE-treated group received 80 mg GBE orally, twice a day for four weeks, and the control group received a placebo twice a day for four weeks. Complete ocular examinations including visual field, Heidelberg retina flowmeter, and systemic examinations were performed on the first study day and on the day treatment was completed.
RESULTS
After GBE treatment, the mean blood flow, volume, and velocity increased at almost all points, and there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow at almost all points, in comparison to the placebo. Blood volume significantly increased only in the superior nasal and superior temporal neuroretinal rim areas. GBE also significantly increased blood velocity in areas of the inferior temporal neuroretinal rim and superior temporal peripapillary area.
CONCLUSIONS
GBE administration appears to have desirable effect on ocular blood flow in NTG patients.

Keyword

Ginkgo biloba extract; Heidelberg retina flowmeter; Normal tension glaucoma; Ocular blood flow

MeSH Terms

Aged
Double-Blind Method
Female
*Ginkgo biloba
Humans
Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
Low Tension Glaucoma/*drug therapy/physiopathology
Male
Optic Disk/blood supply
Phytotherapy/*methods
Plant Extracts/*therapeutic use
Regional Blood Flow/*drug effects
Retina/*physiopathology
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Visual Fields

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Schematic diagram showing locations where perfusion perimeters were measured. 1, Superior nasal peripapillary retina area; 2, inferior nasal peripapillary retina area; 3, superior nasal neuroretinal rim area; 4, inferior nasal neuroretinal rim area; 5, superior optic cup area; 6, inferior optic cup area; 7, superior temporal neuroretinal rim area; 8, inferior temporal neuroretinal rim area; 9, superior temporal peripapillary retina area; 10, inferior temporal peripapillary retina area.


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