Cytidine 5′-diphosphocholine (citicoline): evidence for a neuroprotective role in glaucoma

Stefano Gandolfi ¹, Giorgio Marchini ², Aldo Caporossi ³, Gianluca Scuderi ⁴, Livia Tomasso ⁵, Andrea Brunoro ⁵

Affiliations

• ¹Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Biological, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; stefano.gandolfi@unipr.it
• ²Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, P. le L. A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy; giorgio.marchini@univr.it
• ³Ophthalmology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy., Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; aldo.caporossi@unicatt.it
• ⁴Ophthalmology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa 1035/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy; gianluca.scuderi@uniroma1.it
• ⁵Bausch & Lomb IOM spa Viale Martesana 12, 20090 Vimodrone (MI), Italy; livia.tomasso@bausch.com

Abstract

Glaucoma, a heterogeneous set of progressively degenerative optic neuropathies characterized by a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and typical visual field deficits that can progress to blindness, is a neurodegenerative disease involving both ocular and visual brain structures. Although elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the most important modifiable risk factor of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and is the main therapeutic target in treating glaucoma, other factors that influence the disease course are involved and reaching the optimal IOP target does not stop the progression of glaucoma, as the visual field continues to narrow. In addition to a managed IOP, neuroprotection may be beneficial by slowing the progression of glaucoma and improving the visual defects. Citicoline (cytidine 5′-diphosphocholine) is a naturally occurring endogenous compound that has been investigated as a novel therapeutic agent for the management of glaucoma. Citicoline has demonstrated activity in a range of central neurodegenerative diseases, and experimental evidence suggests a it performs a neuromodulator and neuroprotective role on neuronal cells, including RGCs, associated with improvement in visual function, extension of the visual field and central benefits for the patient. This review aims to critically summarize the current evidence for the neuroprotective properties of citicoline in glaucoma.

Gandolfi, S., Marchini, G., Caporossi, A., Scuderi, G., Tomasso, L., & Brunoro, A. (2020). Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine (Citicoline): Evidence for a Neuroprotective Role in Glaucoma. Nutrients, 12(3), 793. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030793

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7146438/

The contents of this article are directly related to the action of Citizin — learn more here.