title: Visual field loss associated with vigabatrin: pathological correlations.
abstract: Pathological changes are reported in the anterior visual pathways of a 41 year old man with complex partial seizures treated with vigabatrin who developed bilateral visual field constriction. There was peripheral retinal atrophy with loss of ganglion cells and loss of nerve fibres in the optic nerves, chiasm, and tracts. No evidence of intramyelinic oedema was seen. These findings suggest that the primary site of injury lies within the ganglion cells in the retina. The degree of atrophy seen would suggest that the visual field loss is irreversible.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blumbergs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crompton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pietris
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waddy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin