title: Abnormal dark-adapted electroretinogram in Best's vitelliform macular degeneration.
abstract: It is generally well accepted that in Best's vitelliform macular degeneration (BVMD) the electroretinogram (ERG) is normal whereas the electro-oculogram (EOG) is markedly abnormal. We describe a patient in whom BVMD was suspected on the basis of the clinical findings, EOG and family history (one of her daughters had the typical vitelliform lesion). However, her dark-adapted ERG was markedly abnormal. Similar anomalies were found in the dark-adapted ERG of the daughter. While the temporal features of the various ERG waves were well preserved, a substantial decrease in the amplitude of specific segments of the ERG signal was observed. A similar decrease in the amplitude of the oscillatory potentials was also found. We believe that this unusual combination of BVMD and abnormal dark-adapted ERG may be due to the reported reduced penetrance and variable expressivity of the BVMD gene(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lachapelle
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Polomeno
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004530:Egg Yolk; D004585:Electrooculography; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*