Locus-Level Changes in Macular Sensitivity in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa Treated with Oral N-acetylcysteine.

Purpose: To identify characteristics of loci associated with locus-level sensitivity loss or improvement during treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in the FIGHT RP clinical trial.

Methods: Patients (n = 30) were treated with 600, 1,200, or 1,800 mg of NAC twice daily for 3 months and then 3 times/day for 3 months.

Oral N-acetylcysteine improves cone function in retinitis pigmentosa patients in phase I trial.

BACKGROUNDIn retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod photoreceptors degenerate from 1 of many mutations, after which cones are compromised by oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative damage and increases cone function/survival in RP models. We tested the safety, tolerability, and visual function effects of oral NAC in RP patients.