Abstract
Purpose: :
Diverse pathological ocular findings are common in patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system. Additionally, graft–versus–host disease (GVHD) can manifest in the eye and ocular appendices in patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation. The development of retinal and choroidal complications due to GVHD is possible. ERG is a method to objective the function of outer and inner retinal layer which can be involved early in case of retinal damage.
Methods: :
Clinical examination and ERG (a–wave, b–wave, generated by rods and cones; oscillatory potentials; flicker–response) of 11 patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system were performed before bone–marrow–transplantation and 3 and 6 month after transplantation. All ERG responses were obtained with full–field stimuli according to ISCEV–standards (international society for clinical electrophysiology of vision) with a nicolet system using fiber electrodes.
Results: :
ERG parameters showed no significant changes before and after bone marrow transplantation. No progress of retinal alteration was observed.
Conclusions: :
The results of our prospective study indicate that ERG–detectable changes in patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system happen rarely within the first six months after bone marrow transplantation. Probably as a consequence of improved prophylaxis of the disease no sign of retinal GVHD arose.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical