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High-Frequency Electric Nerve Block Shows Promise in Postamputation Pain Management
TOPLINE:
in a new study, presenting a potential new therapeutic option for amputees.
METHODOLOGY:
- The study enrolled 180 patients with unilateral lower limb amputations who were experiencing severe post-procedure pain.
- Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 3 months of treatment with either a high-frequency nerve block (Altius; Neuros Medical) or an active sham.
- Effectiveness was measured by the percentage of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in pain in more than half of the treatment sessions.
- The researchers attempted to control for variables including pain type and baseline pain intensity.
TAKEAWAY:
- A total of 24.7% of patients in the group that received the nerve block were responders at 30 minutes post-treatment, significantly higher than 7.1% in the control group (P = .002).
- The rate of response rose to 46.8% in the treatment group at 120 minutes, compared with 22.2% in the sham group (P = .001).
- Patients who received the nerve block reported a greater improvement in their score on the Brief Pain Inventory than those in the sham arm — 2.3 ± 0.29 vs 1.3 ± 0.26, respectively (P = .01).
- Use of opioids trended toward a greater reduction in the treatment group, although that finding was not statistically significant.
IN PRACTICE:
The results suggested “high-frequency electric nerve block could be a viable option for managing chronic post-amputation pain, potentially improving patients’ quality of life and reducing reliance on opioids,” the authors wrote. “The study addresses a critical gap in treatment options for amputees suffering from persistent pain, offering evidence for a novel therapeutic approach.”
“We have never seen a study of this magnitude and rigor in this patient population,” said lead author Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in a press release about the data. “The data demonstrated clear and lasting benefit of treatment for pain reduction and functional outcomes at 3 months, creating great optimism for the long-term study results. These findings represent a significant advancement for an at-risk and underserved patient population in desperate need of reliable and effective treatment.”
SOURCE:
The study was led by Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was published online in the Journal of Pain Research.
LIMITATIONS:
The sample size of 180 participants may limit the generalizability of the findings to all amputees. A 3-month duration for assessing treatment efficacy may not capture long-term outcomes and effects. The active-sham control design, while rigorous, may not fully account for the placebo effects inherent in pain perception studies.
DISCLOSURES:
The QUEST study was funded by Neuros Medical Inc. Dr. Kapural reported personal fees from various medical companies, unrelated to this work. No other conflicts of interest were reported in this work.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
in a new study, presenting a potential new therapeutic option for amputees.
METHODOLOGY:
- The study enrolled 180 patients with unilateral lower limb amputations who were experiencing severe post-procedure pain.
- Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 3 months of treatment with either a high-frequency nerve block (Altius; Neuros Medical) or an active sham.
- Effectiveness was measured by the percentage of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in pain in more than half of the treatment sessions.
- The researchers attempted to control for variables including pain type and baseline pain intensity.
TAKEAWAY:
- A total of 24.7% of patients in the group that received the nerve block were responders at 30 minutes post-treatment, significantly higher than 7.1% in the control group (P = .002).
- The rate of response rose to 46.8% in the treatment group at 120 minutes, compared with 22.2% in the sham group (P = .001).
- Patients who received the nerve block reported a greater improvement in their score on the Brief Pain Inventory than those in the sham arm — 2.3 ± 0.29 vs 1.3 ± 0.26, respectively (P = .01).
- Use of opioids trended toward a greater reduction in the treatment group, although that finding was not statistically significant.
IN PRACTICE:
The results suggested “high-frequency electric nerve block could be a viable option for managing chronic post-amputation pain, potentially improving patients’ quality of life and reducing reliance on opioids,” the authors wrote. “The study addresses a critical gap in treatment options for amputees suffering from persistent pain, offering evidence for a novel therapeutic approach.”
“We have never seen a study of this magnitude and rigor in this patient population,” said lead author Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in a press release about the data. “The data demonstrated clear and lasting benefit of treatment for pain reduction and functional outcomes at 3 months, creating great optimism for the long-term study results. These findings represent a significant advancement for an at-risk and underserved patient population in desperate need of reliable and effective treatment.”
SOURCE:
The study was led by Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was published online in the Journal of Pain Research.
LIMITATIONS:
The sample size of 180 participants may limit the generalizability of the findings to all amputees. A 3-month duration for assessing treatment efficacy may not capture long-term outcomes and effects. The active-sham control design, while rigorous, may not fully account for the placebo effects inherent in pain perception studies.
DISCLOSURES:
The QUEST study was funded by Neuros Medical Inc. Dr. Kapural reported personal fees from various medical companies, unrelated to this work. No other conflicts of interest were reported in this work.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
in a new study, presenting a potential new therapeutic option for amputees.
METHODOLOGY:
- The study enrolled 180 patients with unilateral lower limb amputations who were experiencing severe post-procedure pain.
- Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 3 months of treatment with either a high-frequency nerve block (Altius; Neuros Medical) or an active sham.
- Effectiveness was measured by the percentage of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in pain in more than half of the treatment sessions.
- The researchers attempted to control for variables including pain type and baseline pain intensity.
TAKEAWAY:
- A total of 24.7% of patients in the group that received the nerve block were responders at 30 minutes post-treatment, significantly higher than 7.1% in the control group (P = .002).
- The rate of response rose to 46.8% in the treatment group at 120 minutes, compared with 22.2% in the sham group (P = .001).
- Patients who received the nerve block reported a greater improvement in their score on the Brief Pain Inventory than those in the sham arm — 2.3 ± 0.29 vs 1.3 ± 0.26, respectively (P = .01).
- Use of opioids trended toward a greater reduction in the treatment group, although that finding was not statistically significant.
IN PRACTICE:
The results suggested “high-frequency electric nerve block could be a viable option for managing chronic post-amputation pain, potentially improving patients’ quality of life and reducing reliance on opioids,” the authors wrote. “The study addresses a critical gap in treatment options for amputees suffering from persistent pain, offering evidence for a novel therapeutic approach.”
“We have never seen a study of this magnitude and rigor in this patient population,” said lead author Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in a press release about the data. “The data demonstrated clear and lasting benefit of treatment for pain reduction and functional outcomes at 3 months, creating great optimism for the long-term study results. These findings represent a significant advancement for an at-risk and underserved patient population in desperate need of reliable and effective treatment.”
SOURCE:
The study was led by Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was published online in the Journal of Pain Research.
LIMITATIONS:
The sample size of 180 participants may limit the generalizability of the findings to all amputees. A 3-month duration for assessing treatment efficacy may not capture long-term outcomes and effects. The active-sham control design, while rigorous, may not fully account for the placebo effects inherent in pain perception studies.
DISCLOSURES:
The QUEST study was funded by Neuros Medical Inc. Dr. Kapural reported personal fees from various medical companies, unrelated to this work. No other conflicts of interest were reported in this work.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
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All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, copied, or otherwise reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of Frontline Medical Communications Inc.</copyrightNotice> </rightsInfo> </provider> <abstract/> <metaDescription>High-frequency electric nerve block significantly reduced postamputation pain</metaDescription> <articlePDF/> <teaserImage/> <teaser>“The data demonstrated clear and lasting benefit of treatment for pain reduction and functional outcomes at 3 months.”</teaser> <title>High-Frequency Electric Nerve Block Shows Promise in Postamputation Pain Management</title> <deck/> <disclaimer/> <AuthorList/> <articleURL/> <doi/> <pubMedID/> <publishXMLStatus/> <publishXMLVersion>1</publishXMLVersion> <useEISSN>0</useEISSN> <urgency/> <pubPubdateYear>2024</pubPubdateYear> <pubPubdateMonth/> <pubPubdateDay/> <pubVolume/> <pubNumber/> <wireChannels/> <primaryCMSID/> <CMSIDs/> <keywords/> <seeAlsos/> <publications_g> <publicationData> <publicationCode>nr</publicationCode> <pubIssueName>January 2021</pubIssueName> <pubArticleType/> <pubTopics/> <pubCategories/> <pubSections/> <journalTitle>Neurology Reviews</journalTitle> <journalFullTitle>Neurology Reviews</journalFullTitle> <copyrightStatement>2018 Frontline Medical Communications Inc.,</copyrightStatement> </publicationData> </publications_g> <publications> <term canonical="true">22</term> </publications> <sections> <term>39313</term> <term canonical="true">86</term> </sections> <topics> <term>260</term> <term canonical="true">268</term> </topics> <links/> </header> <itemSet> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>Main</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title>High-Frequency Electric Nerve Block Shows Promise in Postamputation Pain Management</title> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> <h2>TOPLINE:</h2> <p><span class="tag metaDescription">High-frequency electric nerve block significantly reduced postamputation pain</span> in a new study, presenting a potential new therapeutic option for amputees.</p> <h2>METHODOLOGY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>The study enrolled 180 patients with unilateral lower limb amputations who were experiencing severe post-procedure pain.</li> <li>Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 3 months of treatment with either a high-frequency nerve block (Altius; Neuros Medical) or an active sham.</li> <li>Effectiveness was measured by the percentage of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in pain in more than half of the treatment sessions.</li> <li>The researchers attempted to control for variables including pain type and baseline pain intensity.</li> </ul> <h2>TAKEAWAY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>A total of 24.7% of patients in the group that received the nerve block were responders at 30 minutes post-treatment, significantly higher than 7.1% in the control group (<em>P</em> = .002).</li> <li>The rate of response rose to 46.8% in the treatment group at 120 minutes, compared with 22.2% in the sham group (<em>P</em> = .001).</li> <li>Patients who received the nerve block reported a greater improvement in their score on the Brief Pain Inventory than those in the sham arm — 2.3 ± 0.29 vs 1.3 ± 0.26, respectively (<em>P</em> = .01).</li> <li>Use of opioids trended toward a greater reduction in the treatment group, although that finding was not statistically significant.</li> </ul> <h2>IN PRACTICE:</h2> <p>The results suggested “high-frequency electric nerve block could be a viable option for managing chronic post-amputation pain, potentially improving patients’ quality of life and reducing reliance on opioids,” the authors wrote. “The study addresses a critical gap in treatment options for amputees suffering from persistent pain, offering evidence for a novel therapeutic approach.”</p> <p>“We have never seen a study of this magnitude and rigor in this patient population,” said lead author Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmark-study-of-a-revolutionary-device-for-the-treatment-of-post-amputation-pain-accepted-for-publication-in-the-journal-of-pain-research-302152023.html">press release</a> about the data. “The data demonstrated clear and lasting benefit of treatment for pain reduction and functional outcomes at 3 months, creating great optimism for the long-term study results. These findings represent a significant advancement for an at-risk and underserved patient population in desperate need of reliable and effective treatment.”</p> <h2>SOURCE:</h2> <p>The study was led by Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was published online in the <em><a href="https://www.dovepress.com/getfile.php?fileID=99760">Journal of Pain Research</a></em>.</p> <h2>LIMITATIONS:</h2> <p>The sample size of 180 participants may limit the generalizability of the findings to all amputees. A 3-month duration for assessing treatment efficacy may not capture long-term outcomes and effects. The active-sham control design, while rigorous, may not fully account for the placebo effects inherent in pain perception studies.</p> <h2>DISCLOSURES:</h2> <p>The QUEST study was funded by Neuros Medical Inc. Dr. Kapural reported personal fees from various medical companies, unrelated to this work. No other conflicts of interest were reported in this work.</p> <p>This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.<span class="end"/></p> <p> <em>A version of this article appeared on <span class="Hyperlink"><a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/high-frequency-electric-nerve-block-shows-promise-2024a1000ayt">Medscape.com</a></span>.</em> </p> </itemContent> </newsItem> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>teaser</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title/> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> </itemContent> </newsItem> </itemSet></root>
Melatonin May Cut Risk for Age-Related Eye Disease
TOPLINE:
Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as a preventive therapy.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024.
- The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years, divided into groups based on their history of AMD and melatonin medication codes between November 2008 and November 2023.
- Propensity score matching was used to compare melatonin users and nonusers for the risk for developing any form of AMD or the progression to exudative AMD from the nonexudative form of the condition.
TAKEAWAY:
- Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers.
- In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.
- The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin’s benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported.
IN PRACTICE:
“In this cohort study of 121,523 patients with no history of AMD aged ≥ 50 years, taking melatonin was associated with a decreased risk of developing AMD,” the authors of the study wrote. “Likewise, among 66,253 patients with preexisting nonexudative AMD, melatonin supplementation was negatively associated with the rate of progression to exudative AMD.”
Studies in animals and humans have shown melatonin may be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and have both antiangiogenic and mitochondrial-preserving properties, the authors noted. The new findings “provide a rationale for expanding clinical research on the potential therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in preventing AMD development or its progression,” they added.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Hejin Jeong, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and was published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
LIMITATIONS:
The study’s reliance on diagnostic codes may have limited the accuracy of identifying AMD progression. Variations in coding practices and the reporting of over-the-counter medications like melatonin could have influenced the results. The study did not control for all modifiable risk factors for AMD, which may have introduced healthy user bias.
DISCLOSURES:
The authors reported various potential conflicts of interest, including receiving personal fees and grants from various pharmaceutical companies. The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as a preventive therapy.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024.
- The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years, divided into groups based on their history of AMD and melatonin medication codes between November 2008 and November 2023.
- Propensity score matching was used to compare melatonin users and nonusers for the risk for developing any form of AMD or the progression to exudative AMD from the nonexudative form of the condition.
TAKEAWAY:
- Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers.
- In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.
- The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin’s benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported.
IN PRACTICE:
“In this cohort study of 121,523 patients with no history of AMD aged ≥ 50 years, taking melatonin was associated with a decreased risk of developing AMD,” the authors of the study wrote. “Likewise, among 66,253 patients with preexisting nonexudative AMD, melatonin supplementation was negatively associated with the rate of progression to exudative AMD.”
Studies in animals and humans have shown melatonin may be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and have both antiangiogenic and mitochondrial-preserving properties, the authors noted. The new findings “provide a rationale for expanding clinical research on the potential therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in preventing AMD development or its progression,” they added.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Hejin Jeong, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and was published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
LIMITATIONS:
The study’s reliance on diagnostic codes may have limited the accuracy of identifying AMD progression. Variations in coding practices and the reporting of over-the-counter medications like melatonin could have influenced the results. The study did not control for all modifiable risk factors for AMD, which may have introduced healthy user bias.
DISCLOSURES:
The authors reported various potential conflicts of interest, including receiving personal fees and grants from various pharmaceutical companies. The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as a preventive therapy.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024.
- The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years, divided into groups based on their history of AMD and melatonin medication codes between November 2008 and November 2023.
- Propensity score matching was used to compare melatonin users and nonusers for the risk for developing any form of AMD or the progression to exudative AMD from the nonexudative form of the condition.
TAKEAWAY:
- Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers.
- In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.
- The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin’s benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported.
IN PRACTICE:
“In this cohort study of 121,523 patients with no history of AMD aged ≥ 50 years, taking melatonin was associated with a decreased risk of developing AMD,” the authors of the study wrote. “Likewise, among 66,253 patients with preexisting nonexudative AMD, melatonin supplementation was negatively associated with the rate of progression to exudative AMD.”
Studies in animals and humans have shown melatonin may be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and have both antiangiogenic and mitochondrial-preserving properties, the authors noted. The new findings “provide a rationale for expanding clinical research on the potential therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in preventing AMD development or its progression,” they added.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Hejin Jeong, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and was published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
LIMITATIONS:
The study’s reliance on diagnostic codes may have limited the accuracy of identifying AMD progression. Variations in coding practices and the reporting of over-the-counter medications like melatonin could have influenced the results. The study did not control for all modifiable risk factors for AMD, which may have introduced healthy user bias.
DISCLOSURES:
The authors reported various potential conflicts of interest, including receiving personal fees and grants from various pharmaceutical companies. The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
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<root generator="drupal.xsl" gversion="1.7"> <header> <fileName>168375</fileName> <TBEID>0C050805.SIG</TBEID> <TBUniqueIdentifier>MD_0C050805</TBUniqueIdentifier> <newsOrJournal>News</newsOrJournal> <publisherName>Frontline Medical Communications</publisherName> <storyname/> <articleType>2</articleType> <TBLocation>QC Done-All Pubs</TBLocation> <QCDate>20240611T120326</QCDate> <firstPublished>20240611T121111</firstPublished> <LastPublished>20240611T121111</LastPublished> <pubStatus qcode="stat:"/> <embargoDate/> <killDate/> <CMSDate>20240611T121111</CMSDate> <articleSource/> <facebookInfo/> <meetingNumber/> <byline>Edited by Adam Marcus</byline> <bylineText>EDITED ADAM MARCUS</bylineText> <bylineFull>EDITED ADAM MARCUS</bylineFull> <bylineTitleText/> <USOrGlobal/> <wireDocType/> <newsDocType/> <journalDocType/> <linkLabel/> <pageRange/> <citation/> <quizID/> <indexIssueDate/> <itemClass qcode="ninat:text"/> <provider qcode="provider:imng"> <name>IMNG Medical Media</name> <rightsInfo> <copyrightHolder> <name>Frontline Medical News</name> </copyrightHolder> <copyrightNotice>Copyright (c) 2015 Frontline Medical News, a Frontline Medical Communications Inc. company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, copied, or otherwise reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of Frontline Medical Communications Inc.</copyrightNotice> </rightsInfo> </provider> <abstract/> <metaDescription>Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as</metaDescription> <articlePDF/> <teaserImage/> <teaser>In people with nonexudative age-related macular degenerative, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.</teaser> <title>Melatonin May Cut Risk for Age-Related Eye Disease</title> <deck/> <disclaimer/> <AuthorList/> <articleURL/> <doi/> <pubMedID/> <publishXMLStatus/> <publishXMLVersion>1</publishXMLVersion> <useEISSN>0</useEISSN> <urgency/> <pubPubdateYear/> <pubPubdateMonth/> <pubPubdateDay/> <pubVolume/> <pubNumber/> <wireChannels/> <primaryCMSID/> <CMSIDs/> <keywords/> <seeAlsos/> <publications_g> <publicationData> <publicationCode>fp</publicationCode> <pubIssueName/> <pubArticleType/> <pubTopics/> <pubCategories/> <pubSections/> </publicationData> <publicationData> <publicationCode>im</publicationCode> <pubIssueName/> <pubArticleType/> <pubTopics/> <pubCategories/> <pubSections/> </publicationData> </publications_g> <publications> <term canonical="true">15</term> <term>21</term> </publications> <sections> <term>27970</term> <term canonical="true">39313</term> </sections> <topics> <term canonical="true">215</term> </topics> <links/> </header> <itemSet> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>Main</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title>Melatonin May Cut Risk for Age-Related Eye Disease</title> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> <h2>TOPLINE:</h2> <p>Melatonin supplementation is linked to a reduced risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing its progression, suggesting potential as a preventive therapy.</p> <h2>METHODOLOGY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>Researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, covering electronic medical records across the United States from December 2023 to March 2024.</li> <li>The retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 50 years, divided into groups based on their history of AMD and melatonin medication codes between November 2008 and November 2023.</li> <li>Propensity score matching was used to compare melatonin users and nonusers for the risk for developing any form of AMD or the progression to exudative AMD from the nonexudative form of the condition.</li> </ul> <h2>TAKEAWAY:</h2> <ul class="body"> <li>Use of melatonin was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing AMD, according to the researchers.</li> <li>In people with nonexudative AMD, use of the supplement was linked to a 56% lower risk for progression to exudative AMD.</li> <li>The findings were consistent across age groups, suggesting melatonin’s benefits may extend to older populations at higher risk for AMD, the researchers reported.</li> </ul> <h2>IN PRACTICE:</h2> <p>“In this cohort study of 121,523 patients with no history of AMD aged ≥ 50 years, taking melatonin was associated with a decreased risk of developing AMD,” the authors of the study wrote. “Likewise, among 66,253 patients with preexisting nonexudative AMD, melatonin supplementation was negatively associated with the rate of progression to exudative AMD.”</p> <p>Studies in animals and humans have shown melatonin may be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and have both antiangiogenic and mitochondrial-preserving properties, the authors noted. The new findings “provide a rationale for expanding clinical research on the potential therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in preventing AMD development or its progression,” they added. </p> <h2>SOURCE:</h2> <p>The study was led by Hejin Jeong, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and was published online in <em><a href="http://doi.org/doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.1822">JAMA Ophthalmology</a></em>.</p> <h2>LIMITATIONS:</h2> <p>The study’s reliance on diagnostic codes may have limited the accuracy of identifying AMD progression. Variations in coding practices and the reporting of over-the-counter medications like melatonin could have influenced the results. The study did not control for all modifiable risk factors for AMD, which may have introduced healthy user bias.</p> <h2>DISCLOSURES:</h2> <p>The authors reported various potential conflicts of interest, including receiving personal fees and grants from various pharmaceutical companies. The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation.</p> <p>This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.<span class="end"/></p> <p> <em>A version of this article appeared on <span class="Hyperlink"><a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/melatonin-may-cut-risk-age-related-eye-disease-2024a1000am1">Medscape.com</a></span>.</em> </p> </itemContent> </newsItem> <newsItem> <itemMeta> <itemRole>teaser</itemRole> <itemClass>text</itemClass> <title/> <deck/> </itemMeta> <itemContent> </itemContent> </newsItem> </itemSet></root>