Retinitis pigmentosa, treatment

Kiser, AK and Dagnelie, G, 2008. Reported effects of non-traditional treatments and complementary and alternative medicine by retinitis pigmentosa patients. Clin Exp Optom 91, 166-176. 

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors should be used cautiously in patients at risk for retinitis pigmentosa and by pilots who rely on blue and green lights to land airplanes. Patients who experience sudden vision loss should be evaluated before continuing treatment. 

Retinitis pigmentosa and agranulocytosis are rare idiosyncratic reactions. During treatment with clozapine leucocyte counts should be carried out frequently, especially the first few month, as there is a considerable risk of agranulocytosis. 

Theoretically, inverse agonists may be useful agents for the treatment of disease symptoms caused by constitutive receptor activity. Covalent modifications of the receptor protein, pathological increase in receptor or G protein densities, or inherited or somatic point mutations may lead to increased constitutive receptor activity. For example, certain inherited point mutations in rhodopsin have been shown to cause retinitis pigmentosa. The involvement of inherited, constitutively activating receptor point mutations has also been demonstrated in certain forms of hyperthyroidism, in male precocious puberty, and in Jansen-type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia [8]. Constitutive G protein activity may also be an important factor in autoimmune diseases [9]. 

Eishman GA, Gilbert LD, Eiscella RG, et al. Acetazolamide for treatment of chronic macular edema in retinitis pigmentosa. Arch Ophthalmol 1989 107 1445-1452. 

Grover S, Apushkin MA, Fishman GA. Topical dorzolamide for the treatment of cystoid macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Am J Ophthalmol 2006 141 850-858. 

ECT-Based Delivery of Neurotrophic Factors for the Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa... 

BhaUa S, Joshi D, BhuUar S, Kasuga D, Park Y, Kay CN. Long-term follow-up for efficacy and safety of treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with valproic acid. Br J Ophthalmol July 2013 97(7) 895-9. 

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