Article Text
Abstract
Aim: To determine the anatomical site and extent of electrophysiological dysfunction in patients with ethambutol associated visual loss.
Methods: A comparative case series. Four patients with ethambutol associated visual loss underwent multifocal electroretinography (mERG). Two patients had advanced visual loss while two had early signs of toxicity. The N1-P1, N1, P1 amplitudes, N1, and P1 latencies were compared to 10 age and sex matched controls.
Results: mERG abnormalities were detected in the ethambutol treated patients. The N1 amplitude was significantly lower in the ethambutol treated patients than in the control group.
Conclusion: Ethambutol is possibly toxic to the retina, and not only the optic nerve. The multifocal ERG may be of value to diagnose and monitor patients taking ethambutol.
- CT, computed tomography
- ERG, electroretinography
- MAC, Mycobacteriumavium complex
- mERG, multifocal electroretinography
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- RAPD, relative afferent pupillary defect
- ethambutol
- visual loss
- electroretinography
- CT, computed tomography
- ERG, electroretinography
- MAC, Mycobacteriumavium complex
- mERG, multifocal electroretinography
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- RAPD, relative afferent pupillary defect
- ethambutol
- visual loss
- electroretinography
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Footnotes
-
The authors have no proprietary interest in any of the instruments used or any other aspect of this study.
Linked Articles
- BJO at a glance