Effectiveness of citicoline in pediatric patients with refractive amblyopia in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Objectives Amblyopia is a decrease of visual acuity that cannot be attributed to any structural abnormality of the eye or visual system, causing a partial or complete loss of vision due to inadequate stimulation in early life. Citicoline has been reported to improve visual acuity in amblyopic eyes as adjuvant treatment. This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of citicoline in pediatric patients with refractive amblyopia in ophthalmology daily practices. Methods This was a retrospective–descriptive study with a time limited sampling method. This study was conducted at Surabaya Eye Clinic, East Java, Indonesia, by reviewing medical records for the period of January 2018 to December 2019. Results A total of 34 eyes were included in the study with the majority aged five years (41.2%) and six years (35.3%). The severity of amblyopia varied among patients, 21 eyes (61.76%) had mild amblyopia, seven eyes (20.59%) had moderate amblyopia, and two eyes (5.88%) had severe amblyopia. The duration of given therapy also varied, 18 eyes (52.94%) were given 3 months therapy, two eyes were given 4 months therapy, 12 eyes were given 6 months therapy, and two eyes were given 8 months therapy. Citicoline was found effective in mild and moderate amblyopia and for the duration of 3 and 6 months (p<0.05). In others group who did not showed statistically significant improvement was due to inadequate samples but clinically significant improvement was noted. Conclusions Citicoline therapy resulted in a clinically and statistically improvement in refractive amblyopia patients.

Citicolina: revisión farmacológica y clínica, actualización 2022

“…There are some studies published in pediatric populations with citicoline in traumatic brain injuries [ 456 ], organic brain syndromes [ 845 - 847 ], neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy [ 848 - 852 ], visual impairment [ 853 ], refractive amblyopia [ 854 ], neurophysiologic abnormalities in developmental dysphasias [ 855 ], choline kinase beta deficiency [ 856 ], children with post cardiac arrest [ 857 ], learning disturbances [ 858 , 859 ], and autism and Asperger’s syndrome [ 860 ]. There is a review on the use of citicoline in pediatric neurology and pediatric psychiatry [ 861 ].…”

“…Hay algunos estudios publicados en población pediátrica con citicolina en lesiones cerebrales traumáticas [ 456 ], síndromes cerebrales orgánicos [ 845 - 847 ], encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica neonatal [ 848 - 852 ], discapacidad visual [ 853 ], ambliopía refractiva [ 854 ], disfasias evolutivas [ 855 ], deficiencia de colina cinasa beta [ 856 ], niños con posparo cardíaco [ 857 ], trastornos del aprendizaje [ 858 , 859 ], y autismo y síndrome de Asperger [ 860 ]. Hay una revisión sobre el uso de citicolina en neurología y psiquiatría pediátricas [ 861 ].…”