[The value of multifocal ERG in diagnosis of discrete macular dystrophies].
BACKGROUND
Multifocal ERG is being extensively applied to numerous retinal disorders. It has gained particular clinical value in retinal disorders developing without morphological alterations.


METHODS
We investigated a series of 4 patients, aged 10, 18, 29, and 49 years, respectively. When examined, they complained of photophobia and slowly progressive bilateral loss of vision, visual acuity ranging from 0.7 to 0.1.


RESULTS
Ophthalmoscopic examination showed no or minimal alterations such as subtle granular changes in the fovea. Photopic-scotopic full-field ERG was normal. Multifocal ERG, in contrast, showed markedly reduced signal amplitudes within the central 10 degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of multifocal ERG, we were able in each case to consider with a high degree of probability the diagnosis of progressive foveal cone dystrophy. This is to emphasize the sensitivity of multifocal ERG in disorders affecting primarily the macula, without morphological changes, as cone (-rod) dystrophy, early Stargardt dystrophy, etc. The uttermost advantages of multifocal ERG are its innocuity, its applicability to children and the very early sensitivity to changes in retinal function.
Zaninetti
M
M
Clinique universitaire d'ophtalmologie, Genève, Suisse. Marc.Zaninetti@hcuge.ch
Safran
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AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology