Longitudinal analysis of full-field electroretinography findings in non-infectious retinal vasculitis patients with significantly improved inflammation

Abstract

Purpose : This retrospective, observational study aimed to assess the changes in full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG) parameters in patients with non-infectious retinal vasculitis (RV) who showed objective improvement of inflammation during the follow-up period.

Methods : Medical records of patients with non-infectious RV who underwent at least two ff-ERG testing during the follow-up period were reviewed. Wide-angle fluorescein angiography (WAFA) findings were graded by Angiography Scoring for Uveitis Working Group (ASUWOG) scoring. The patients who showed improvement in ASUWOG scoring by more than 5 points were enrolled. The eight amplitudes and eight implicit time measurements from the initial ff-ERG were compared with the follow-up ff-ERG for each patient.

Results : A total of 18 eyes of 12 patients were included. Mean duration between the initial and follow-up ff-ERG testing was 11.1±3.8 (range, 6-18) months. Mean ASUWOG score had improved from 15.4±4.1 (range, 9-24) at the baseline to 5.1±4.8 (range, 0-14) at the follow-up visit (p< 0.001). There was no significant change in visual acuity (Log MAR 0.18±0.33 to 0.22±0.42, p= 0.410) and central subfield thickness (323.5±138.6 mm to 299.8±95.0 mm p=0.051) during the follow-up. All eight amplitude parameters were decreased at the follow-up ff-ERG testing as compared to initial ff-ERG with significant reduction in dark-adapted (DA)3 b-wave, DA10 a-wave and DA10 b-wave (p=0.008, p=0.036 and p=0.004, respectively). All eight implicit time parameters were shorter at the follow-up ff-ERG testing as compared to initial ff-ERG with significant improvement in DA10 a-wave, DA10 b-wave and light-adapted (LA)3 b-wave, and LA flicker (p=0.001, p=0.048, p=0.023 and p=0.001, respectively).

Conclusions : In eyes with improved RV based on objective ASUWOG scoring, implicit times of DA10 a-wave, DA10 b-wave and light-adapted (LA)3 b-waves significantly improved. In addition, amplitude values of DA3 b-wave, DA10 a-wave, and DA10 b-wave showed significant reduction. Longitudinal assessment of amplitude and implicit time parameters of ff-ERG testing may be beneficial in monitoring patients with non-infectious RV. The data suggest that the implicit time may be related to the level of present inflammation, while the amplitude may reflect cumulative damage.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.