Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: In view of the generally impaired blood perfusion in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, we investigated their colour perception. Methods: Thirty–six patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia were included and devided into three groups: Group 1: patients without medication (n = 15; mean age ± standard deviation = 38 ± 17 years), group 2: patients with beta blocker (n = 15; mean age ± standard deviation = 49 ± 10 years), group 3: patients with other medication – no beta blocker ( n = 6; mean age ± standard deviation = 52 ± 15 years). The control groups 4, 5, 6 without ophthalmological and systemic diseases corresponded to the patients groups 1, 2, 3 in number, age and sex. Beside the ophthalmological examinations (visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure, slit lamp and fundus examination) the colour–vision was tested by the colour–arrangement test Roth 28–hue (E) desaturated monocularly under standard conditions: The background used was black cardboard, illuminated by two Osram fluorescent lamps (L36W/12LDL Daylight) providing 2000 lux at the test table. Results: Ophthalmological examination in all subjects was without pathological findings. The patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia had a significantly higher mean error score (median ± mean absolute deviation: group 1: 114 ± 60.48, Mann–Withney–U–Test: p = 0.0013; group 2: 150 ± 59.67; p = 0.000086; group 3: 189 ± 111; p = 0.0650705) in the colour–arrangement test than did the control groups (median ± mean absolute deviation: group 4: 42 ± 28.8; group 5: 66 ± 22.3; group 6: 42 ± 33). A particular colour axis (blue–yellow or red–green) was not found. No statistically significant difference was found between the mean error scores of group 1, 2 and 3. Conclusion:Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia deteriorated the results in colour–arrangement–tests like the Roth 28–hue (E) desaturated and should be considered in quantitative evaluation.
Keywords: color vision • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • ischemia