The Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis and Coenzyme Q10 in Conjunction with Vitamin E Effect on Retinopathy Prematurity

This study was performed to determine whether one drop of topical administration of Coqun® (Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E)-a potent antioxidant-twice a day has any effect on the thiol-disulphide homeostasis-a novel oxidative stress marker in the Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP) disease course.

This was a prospective observational study comprising 28 infants with ROP at stage 2 and higher who followed up at the paediatric intensive care unit. Ferric reducing power of plasma (FRAP), albumin, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and thiol disulphide homeostasis levels were studied in the infants before and two weeks after Coqun® treatment.

The mean gestational age was 27 (24–32) weeks, the mean birth weight was 1,012±326 g and the mean duration of care in an incubator was 64±23 days. FRAP levels were 0.91±0.17 μmol/L, IMAs were 0.85±0.29, native thiols were 248±38.9 μmol/L and total thiols were 284±39.2 μmol/L, respectively, at the beginning of therapy.

FRAP levels 0.79±0.21(p= 0.006) μmol/L, IMAs 0.73±0.36(p = 0.096), native thiols 262±42.6(p = 0.164) μmol/L and total thiols 291±43.6(p = 0.344) μmol/L showed no difference after two weeks of therapy.

Thiol disulphide homeostasis levels do not change with Coqun® therapy during ROP course.