Rationale for an experimental treatment of retinitis pigmentosa: 140-Month test of hypothesis with one patient

The hypothesis was tested for 140 months with one RP patient monitored by Humphrey Perimetry, which was quantitated by two parameters: (a) sum of decibel units, (b) number of detected light sources (visual field). Although no decline was observed in these parameters during the first 50 months of treatment, they declined by 10-28% during months 50-65. These declines reversed upon introduction of minocycline: over the total 140-month treatment, the right eye visual field showed 0% decline and left eye 13.3% decline. Rate constants for logarithmic decline of visual field measured prior to treatment indicate that visual fields would have decreased by 64% and 70%, respectively by month 140 in the absence of treatment.