Conditions that suggest Retinitis Pigmentosa
Night Blindness
Retinitis pigmentosa results in visual rods being destroyed early in the course of disease, resulting in night blindness. Night blindness in children may be an early indicator of retinitis pigmentosa.
Retinitis Pigmentosa suggests the following may be present
Hypothyroidism
There is an increased occurrence of thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. [ Am J Ophthalmol, 1996 Dec, 122:6, pp.903-5 Abstract]
Retinitis Pigmentosa can lead to
Night Blindness
Retinitis pigmentosa results in visual rods being destroyed early in the course of disease, resulting in night blindness. Night blindness in children may be an early indicator of retinitis pigmentosa.
Recommendations for Retinitis Pigmentosa
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
Many patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) have lower than normal blood levels of the long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6omega3). Despite individual variation among both patients and controls, the data are consistent with a lower rate of Delta(5)-desaturation, suggesting that decreased biosynthesis of DHA may contribute to lower blood levels of DHA in patients with XLRP. [J Lipid Res. 2001 Sep;42(9): pp.1395-401]
Four years of treatment with 400mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) did not compromise plasma antioxidant capacity, platelet aggregation, liver enzyme activity, or plasma lipoprotein lipid content in a well-controlled study of 44 young men with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. [Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121(9): pp.1269-78]
Ozone / Oxidative Therapy
One patient reports:
I had ozone therapy in Atlanta, Georgia, USA for retinitis pigmentosa. The results were impressive and I would love to continue with the therapy. The results were improved vision at night and in dimly lit places, restaurants, theaters and such. Major autohemotherapy was the form used. This was done for 15 consecutive days. When I had to move, my doctor suggested the use of rectal suppositories, but it is not known how well this will work. The effect of major autohemotherapy in retinitis pigmentosa seems to wear off as red blood cells are regenerated over a 3 – 4 month period.
Key
| Weak or unproven link |
| Strong or generally accepted link |
| Proven definite or direct link |
| May do some good |
| Likely to help |
Glossary
Thyroid
Thyroid Gland: An organ with many veins. It is at the front of the neck. It is essential to normal body growth in infancy and childhood. It releases thyroid hormones - iodine-containing compounds that increase the rate of metabolism, affect body temperature, regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate catabolism in all cells. They keep up growth hormone release, skeletal maturation, and heart rate, force, and output. They promote central nervous system growth, stimulate the making of many enzymes, and are necessary for muscle tone and vigor.