Treatment of vascular retinopathies with Pycnogenol®

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Abstract
The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of Pycnogenol® on the progression of diabetic retinopathy and other vascular retinal disorders. The study consisted of a double-blind phase in which 20 patients were recruited and randomly treated with placebo or Pycnogenol® (50 mg × 3/day for 2 months) and an open phase in which another 20 patients were treated with Pycnogenol® at the same dose schedule. In total, 40 patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases involving the retina were enrolled; 30 of them were treated with Pycnogenol® and 10 with placebo. The results demonstrated a beneficial effect of Pycnogenol® on the progression of retinopathy. Without any treatment (placebo) the retinopathy progressively worsened during the trial and the visual acuity significantly decreased; on the contrary, the Pycnogenol®-treated patients showed no deterioration of retinal function and a significant recovery of visual acuity was also obtained. The fluorangiography showed an improvement of retinal vascularization and a reduced endothelial permeability and leakage in the Pycnogenol®, but not in the placebo-treated, patients. The ophthalmoscopy and the electroretinogram (ERG) also confirmed the beneficial effects of Pycnogenol®. The mechanism of action of Pycnogenol® may be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. It has been suggested that Pycnogenol® may bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary ‘sealing’ effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.