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Calcium Dobesilate in the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Treatments in Endocrinology

Abstract

The incidence of diabetic retinopathy is still increasing in developed countries. Tight glycemic control and laser therapy reduce vision loss and blindness, but do not reverse existing ocular damage and only slow the progression of the disease. New pharmacologic agents that are currently under development and are specifically directed against clearly defined biochemical targets (i.e. aldose reductase inhibitors and protein kinase C-β inhibitors) have failed to demonstrate significant efficacy in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy in clinical trials. In contrast, calcium dobesilate (2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonate), which was discovered more than 40 years ago and is registered for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy in more than 20 countries remains, to our knowledge, the only angioprotective agent that reduces the progression of this disease. An overall review of published studies involving calcium dobesilate (CLS 2210) depicts a rather ‘non-specific’ compound acting moderately, but significantly, on the various and complex disorders that contribute to diabetic retinopathy. Recent studies have shown that calcium dobesilate is a potent antioxidant, particularly against the highly damaging hydroxyl radical. In addition, it improves diabetic endothelial dysfunction, reduces apoptosis, and slows vascular cell proliferation.

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Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to Gwyn Davies (St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK) for help with the English language aspects of this article, and to Marit Meredith and Christine Vanderhoven for reviewing the manuscript. Manuscript preparation was supported by a grant from OM PHARMA (CM-1217 Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland).

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  1. Equipe d’Accueil EA2381, Laboratoire Pharmacologie Transports Ioniques Membranaires, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

    Ricardo P. Garay & Patrick Hannaert

  2. OM PHARMA, Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland

    Carlo Chiavaroli

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  1. Ricardo P. Garay
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Correspondence to Ricardo P. Garay.

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Garay, R.P., Hannaert, P. & Chiavaroli, C. Calcium Dobesilate in the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy. Mol Diag Ther 4, 221–232 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00024677-200504040-00003

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