Author/Editor		Brecelj, Jelka; Stirn-Kranjc, Branka
Title		Visual electrophysiological screening in diagnosing infants with congenital nystagmus
Type		članek
Source		Clin Neurophysiol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 115, št. 2
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 461-70
Language		eng
Abstract		Objective: To determine the value of visual electrophysiological screening in evaluating retinal and postretinal visual pathway function in infants with congenital nystagmus. Methods: In 28 infants with congenital nystagmus electroretinograms (ERG) was recorded with skin electrodes and, since the infants were alert, visual evoked potentials (VEP) were simultaneously recorded. The first recording was performed before the age of 1 year (age 2-11 months, mean age 6.8 months). Follow-up was performed between the ages of 7 months and 6 years (mean age 2.7 years). ERG were detected to flash stimulus and VEP to flash and/or pattern-reversal stimulus. Results: In infants less than 1 year of age, retinal dysfunction was recognised in 36% of infants who had been diagnosed as Leber's congenital amaurosis, achromatopsia and retinal dystrophy; postretinal dysfunction was recognised in 32% of infants who had been diagnosed with ocular albinism, optic nerve hypoplasia and neurological nystagmus; retinal or postretinal function was normal in 7% of infants that had been diagnosed as congenital idiopathic nystagmus, while retinal function was normal and posttetinal function was undefined in 25% of infants that had been diagnosed as optic nerve hypoplasia, neurological nystagmus and congenital idiopathic nystagmus. At followup the findings were: retinal dysfunction in 36%, postretinal dysfunction in 50% and normal retinal and postretinal function in 14% of children. All those children with normal retinal and postretinal function had:been.diagnosed as congenital idiopathic nystagmus. Conclusion: Visual electrophysiological scnrening of infants with congenital nystagmus can establish or exclude retinal and postretinal pathway dysfunction. Therefore simultaneous skin ERG and VEP arhich is a non-invasive appnoach for infants enables an objective means for identifying the basis of congenital nystagmus, thereby assisting in its classification.
Descriptors		NYSTAGMUS ELECTRORETINOGRAPHY EVOKED POTENTIALS, VISUAL INFANT OPTIC ATROPHY, HEREDITARY COLOR VISION DEFECTS RETINAL DEGENERATION ALBINISM, OCULAR