Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To find out whether two new electrophysiologic methods, the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP), may be of value for monitoring local function and dysfunction in the retina and the visual pathway, of carriers and patients with x-linked retinitis pigmentosa (xlRP). Methods: Four family members, two female carriers (68 and 77 years) and two males with xlRP (37 and 48 years) were examined. Besides an ophthalmologic evaluation including kinetic visual field testing, ophthalmoscopy and full-field electroretinography (ERG), two newly developed electrophysiologic methods, the mfERG and the mfVEP were used. A bipolar contact lens with built-in infrared emitters was used to visualise the retina during the mfERG-recordings. Results: The electrophysiological examinations could confirm residual retinal function in patients with xlRP comparable to the ophthalmologic evaluations. In the female carriers asymmetric degenerative changes and patchy areas of retinal dysfunction were detected, in comparison to normals. MfVEP, which reflects the cortical responses to the retinal abnormalities, demonstrated similar pattern in these patients. Conclusions: Two new electrophysiologic methods, the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) seem to be useful methods for examining patients with retinitis pigmentosa and for identifying female carriers of xlRP. The mfERG seems to be a valuable tool for detecting interocular asymmetric retinal dysfunction in female carriers, in addition to kinetic visual field testing and full-field ERG.
Keywords: electrophysiology: clinical • retinal degenerations: hereditary