Treatment of retinal vein thrombosis with defibrotide

The therapeutic effects of defibrotide, a polydesoxyribonucleotide derivative with antithrombotic, fibrinolytic, and anti-ischemic activity, were explored in 15 patients with occlusion of the central vein (5 cases) or peripheral branches of the retinal venous system (10 cases). Defibrotide was administered by slow intravenous infusion in doses of 2 gm daily for 21 days: at the start and end of the study, all patients underwent ophthalmologic examination with measurements of visual acuity and funduscopy by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Visual acuity improved in 11 patients, while it remained unchanged in four cases; the difference between means was statistically significant ( P P P