IngentaConnect Vigabatrin: longterm follow-up of electrophysiology and visual fi...

Authors: Hardus, Peter¹; Verduin, Willem²; Berendschot, Tos²; Postma, Gina²; Stilma, Jan²; van Veelen, Cees³

Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, Volume 81, Number 5, October 2003 , pp. 459-465(7)

Abstract:

. Background:

To report the results of repeated electrophysiological and visual field examinations in patients with vigabatrin-associated visual field loss (VGB-VFL) and the relationship between these electrophysiological findings, the cumulative dose of vigabatrin and the extent of visual field loss. Methods:

Twenty-two eyes of 11 patients with VGB-VFL were studied. All patients underwent surgery for therapy-resistant epilepsy. Repeated electro-oculograms (EOGs) and flash electroretinograms (ERGs) were made and the cumulative dose of vigabatrin and the visual field loss were recorded after a period of 37-47 months. Results:

The visual field loss was stable in patients who had stopped vigabatrin at the time of the first examination. There was a slight increase in VFL in patients who continued vigabatrin. During the second EOG and ERG, abnormalities in scotopic and photopic a-wave latencies and in scotopic b-wave amplitude were found in more than 50% of patients. Only b-wave latency became normal, while EOG, a-wave latency, a-wave amplitude and b-wave amplitude stayed abnormal. The amount of VFL and the cumulative dose of vigabatrin were statistically correlated with the b-wave amplitude, mainly photopic, found during the first and second examinations. Conclusion:

After 4 years, EOG, flash ERG and visual field loss had not improved in patients with VGB-VFL. The statistically significant correlation found during the first examination between the amount of VFL and the cumulative dose of vigabatrin with the (mainly photopic) b-wave amplitude remained constant.

Keywords: cumulative dose; electro-oculogram; electroretinogram; vigabatrin; visual field loss

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0420.2003.00085.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Hospital Groningen, the Netherlands 2: Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands 3: Department of Functional Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Vigabatrin: longterm follow-up of electrophysiology and visual field examinations