title: Voluntary alteration of full-field electroretinogram.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether a normal subject can deliberately produce abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) results that simulate disorders of the retina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five normal subjects were evaluated twice with full-field ERGs. The subjects were randomly assigned to be compliant or noncompliant (i.e., to deliberately attempt to alter the test results) at each visit. Results from compliant eyes were compared with those of noncompliant eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the amplitudes of all parameters were decreased in the noncompliant group, the difference was not statistically significant, and the results were usually within the normal limits of our laboratory. No subject was able to alter the results to mimic a retinal disease or to reproduce a specific pattern of changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although ERG results can be altered by noncompliant subjects, the results are usually only "borderline abnormal" and do not correspond to any pattern of retinal disease. These results confirm that abnormal full-field ERGs indicate true retinal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Alyson B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biousse
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Claire S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Carolyn D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Drews-Botsch
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D004596:Electroretinography; D006801:Humans; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology