Human centrifugation: new approach in the treatment of diabetic background retinopathy (preliminary communication)

Abstract

In previous studies we reported that Human Centrifugation Treatment (HCT) provoked endogenous prostaglandin liberation by a mechanical stimulus over the vessel walls. Up to now, the importance of Prostacyclin (PGI2) and HCT in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy has not been investigated. We studied the efficacy of one month of HCT in background retinopathy (BR). We evaluated the evolution of the visual acuity and the eye fundus at one, three six and one year after HCT in twenty-five patients. PGI2 levels were determined before and after HCT in seven patients and four normal volunteers. HCT was performed in a centrifuge Isasi's Model. Patients were exposed daily for 1 hour to acceleration profiles from head to feet during a period of a month. This preliminary communication demonstrated that: HCT provokes endogenous PGI2 liberation (p < 0.001), b) HCT substantially reduces vascular leakage and macular edema improving the visual acuity (p < 0.001); c) HCT has long-lasting beneficial effects.