ERG and VEP follow-up study in children with Leber's congenital amaurosis.

PURPOSE

Our prospective clinical and electrophysiological study of children suspected of Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) was aimed to follow-up the course of their visual dysfunction.

METHODS

Electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) to white flash stimulation were simultaneously recorded in 9 children at least twice.

RESULTS

The first flash ERG and flash VEP recordings were performed when children were 3-17 months old (mean age 7.6 months). Flash ERG was not recordable in 8 children; flash VEP to binocular stimulation could not be detected in 3, was delayed in 2, attenuated in 2, both attenuated and delayed in 1, and without evident abnormality in 1 of the 9 children. On the last examination (mean age 33.8 months) flash VEP activity was recordable in all children, while flash ERG was recordable in 1. Electrophysiological follow-up (mean duration 26.2 months) showed no deterioration of flash VEP in 8 children.

CONCLUSION

In children of LCA simultaneous recording of flash ERG and flash VEP in alert children was helpful to indicate the nature of the visual problem for diagnostic and follow-up purposes.