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The Pattern Electroretinogram in Optic Nerve Demyelination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Trevor H. Kirkham  and
Stuart G. Coupland
Trevor H. Kirkham*
Affiliation:
Departments of Neurology. Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology. McGill University, and the Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Montreal Neurological Hospital
Stuart G. Coupland
Affiliation:
Departments of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary and the Department of Sensory Physiology at the Alberta Children’s Hospital
*
Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Montreal Neurological Hospital, 3801 University Street, #201, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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The pattern electroretinogram (PERG) is probably generated by the ganglion cell layer of the retina whose axons constitute the conductive fibres of the optic nerves. A study was undertaken of the PERG in a group of patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis who had suffered optic nerve demyelination to assess the value of recording the PERG as a method for electrophysiological determination of optic nerve dysfunction. Pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) were simultaneously recorded, each eye being stimulated separately, and four different check sizes were used. Although individual patients showed PERG abnormalities the results as a group showed no significant difference from the normal population so far as latency or amplitude of the PERG was concerned. Thus we conclude that the PERG, while an interesting measurement, does not satisfactorily reflect optic nerve dysfunction. Further, our results indicate that it is not such a useful measure as the pattern visual evoked response for detecting optic nerve disease.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , November 1983 , pp. 256 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1983

References

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