title: Reversed visual field constrictions in children after vigabatrin withdrawal--true retinal recovery or improved test performance only?
abstract: While vigabatrin-associated visual field constrictions have been generally considered irreversible, some case reports have raised the hope of partial improvement after drug withdrawal in occasional patients. Here we describe seven children with epilepsy, whose visual field constrictions, as demonstrated by the kinetic perimetry (Goldmann), attenuated or recovered after discontinuation of vigabatrin therapy. While this improvement may be largely due to better performance in later test sessions, we want to raise the possibility that some visual field recovery may be possible at least in young patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 281, 00029 Hus, Finland. sampsa.vanhatalo@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanhatalo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riikonen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Aine
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin