Abstract
Purpose: :
We investigated scotopic and photopic electroretinographic (ERG) responses in children and young adolescents with cystic fibrosis who were either pancreatic insufficient (PI) or pancreatic sufficient (PS).
Methods: :
ERG recordings were made from a mixed-gender group of 41 children and adolescents (4 to 18 years) with cystic fibrosis - 29 were pancreatic insufficient (PI) and 12 were pancreatic sufficient (PS). Full-field monocular ERGs were recorded from one eye, using a DTL fibre in the inferior cul-de-sac in conjunction with a Ganzfeld stimulus bowl (Radiometer Pacific, Sydney) and a portable stimulus trigger/averager (Medelec, Sydney). The pupil was dilated prior to recording, using two drops of 0.5% Tropicamide. Stimuli were scotopic weak flash, scotopic strong flash, photopic flash and photopic 30Hz flicker. Oscillatory potentials (OPs) were recorded to the scotopic strong flash. Serum levels of vitamin A, β Carotene and retinol binding protein (RBP) were also measured.
Results: :
Implicit times of scotopic a and b waves and b wave amplitudes and implicit time and amplitude of photopic flash and 30Hz responses were not correlated with vitamin A, β Carotene or RBP levels. There was also no difference in these parameters between PI and PS groups. OP amplitudes were similar across the two groups.
Conclusions: :
Current levels of enzyme supplementation are sufficient to prevent ERG abnormalities in the cystic fibrosis population.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • nutritional factors