NAT–3 Study: DHA Supplementation for Late Onset Stargardt Disease

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To analyze the effects of a DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation in patients affected with late onset Stargardt disease (STGD). Methods: Twelve unrelated patients (4 women, 8 men) diagnosed as late onset STGD were included. Mean age of patients was 46 years old (range 24–72). DHA (840 mg/day) was given to the 12 patients during 6 months. A complete ophthalmologic examination including best corrected visual acuity, color pictures of the fundus, autofluorescent frames, fluorescein angiography, ICG, OCT and mfERG was performed at inclusion and at month 6. Results: Two out of 12 patients clearly had an improvement of visual acuity and improvement of mf ERG. In one, the peak of the a wave increased from 66 to 75.4 RE and 24.5 to 49.1 LE. The peak of the b wave improved from 122 to 157 RE, and 102 to 149 LE. In the second, left eye was affected with CNV and thus only right eye was analyzed. Peaks of the a and b waves respectively increased from 11.8 to 72.1 and 53 to 185. Conclusions: This report supports the beneficial effects of DHA in some patients affected with STGD. Molecular biology analysis is in process in order to establish predicting factors of efficacy of DHA treatment.

Keywords: retinal degenerations: hereditary • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled • lipids