Characteristic retinal atrophy with secondary "inverse" optic atrophy identifies vigabatrin toxicity in children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical pattern of retinal atrophy in children caused by the anticonvulsant vigabatrin.


METHODS
An interventional case series report.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-eight patients, mainly infants, were evaluated regularly for evidence of possible vigabatrin toxicity in the Eye and Neurology clinics at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.


METHODS
Sequential clinical and electroretinographic (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision standards) evaluations every 6 months.


METHODS
Presence of recognizable retinal and optic atrophy in the presence of abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) and other clinical findings.


RESULTS
Three children being treated for seizures with vigabatrin showed definite clinical findings of peripheral retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy, with relative sparing of the central or macular portion of the retina and relative nasal optic nerve atrophic changes. Some macular wrinkling was evident in 1 case. Progressive ERG changes showing decreased responses, especially the 30-Hz flicker response, supported the presence of decreased retinal function.


CONCLUSIONS
A recognizable and characteristic form of peripheral retinal atrophy and nasal or "inverse" optic disc atrophy can occur in a small number of children being treated with vigabatrin. The changes in superficial light reflexes of the retina in children facilitate the clinical recognition of nerve fiber layer atrophy. The macula is relatively spared, although superficial retinal light reflexes indicating wrinkling of the innermost retina suggest early macular toxicity as well. Because these changes are accompanied by electrophysiologic evidence of retinal dysfunction, discontinuation of vigabatrin should be strongly considered.
Department of Ophthalmology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
J Raymond
JR
Buncic
Carol A
CA
Westall
Carole M
CM
Panton
J Robert
JR
Munn
Leslie D
LD
MacKeen
William J
WJ
Logan
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001284:Atrophy; D002648:Child; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin