AIM: To investigate the protective effect of nerve growth factor(NGF)combined with mecobalamine on optic nerve and the influence on matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease-2(TIMP-2).

METHODS: Totally 54 patients(73 eyes)with acute angle closure glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy was included in the study, and the patients were divided into the control group(30 cases, 35 eyes)and combination group(24 cases, 38 eyes)according to the digital table method. The patients in the control group were treated with mecobalamine, and the patients in combination group were treated with NGF combined with mecobalamine. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, mean light sensitivity(MS), visual field mean defect(MD), retinal nerve fibre layer(RNFL)thickness, the nipple cup/disc ratio, P100 wave incubation period and amplitude of P100 wave, neuron-specific enolase(NSE), nitric oxide(NO), nitric oxide synthase(NOS), matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), metalloproteinases tissue inhibiting factor-2(TIMP-2)before and after treatment were observed in the two groups. The adverse reactions during medication were supervised.

RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, visual acuity, MS, and P100 wave amplitudes increased, MD and P100 wave latency decreased(P<0.05)after treatment, the change ranges in combination group were greater than those in control group(P<0.05). There was no significant change in intraocular pressure, RNFL, the nipple cup/disc ratio before and after treatment in the two groups(P>0.05). Compared with those before treatment, serum NO, NOS, MMP-2 levels in the two groups increased, and the levels of NES, TIMP-2, TIMP-2/MMP-2 decreased(P<0.05), but the change degrees in combination group were greater than those in control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: NGF combined with mecobalamine can improve postoperative visual function of glaucoma, which has certain regulatory effects on MMP-2 and TIMP-2.