Purpose
Vigabatrin is an active treatment for epilepsia in children particularily in West’s syndrome. In children when visual field testing cannot be performed, regular ERG recording is mandatory to screen for retinal toxicity. Some peripheral retinal changes have been described with ophthalmoscopy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of retinal changes in wide field imaging and to compare the results with ERG recordings.
Methods
10 consecutive patients treated with vigabatrin were followed up with ERG and wide field imaging using scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Optomap).
Results
Among 3 patients with abnormal ERG recordings, all presented with peripheral pigmentary changes. Six patients had normal ERG recordings and no peripheral changes on wide field imaging. One patient with a normal ERG had slight peripheral pigmentary changes.
Conclusions
The follow-up with in children treated with vigabatrin is complicated because the ERG recordings are to be repeated regularly. A follow-up protocol combining electrophysiological recordings and wide field imaging could simplify screening for retinal toxicity but the significance of retinal changes in terms of toxicity needs to be demonstrated in a prospective setting.
Keywords: 509 electroretinography: clinical •
466 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials •
690 retina: neurochemistry